Dawn Marie Marchand: Things to Pass On, 2012

Thanks to Dawn Marie Marchand for permission to share this series of paintings, inspired by a podcast about Indigenous Languages that she heard in 2012. Dawn Marie writes: “I was really challenged by it and started to ask myself some difficult questions. I think it has started a life long journey for me. If my worldview is shaped by my Cree Language and I was not raised with that language; what can I do? I decided to go back into some teachings that I was given and found the words for the things that my Elders held in highest esteem. I will learn these words and the stories around these words. These are the words that I will pass on to my children. If there is anything that I can save; then it should be the stuff that is in a good way and worthy of handing to my grandchildren.” 

Thanks to Solomon Ratt for adding audio to help with pronunciation!

Here are the words depicted in syllabics in the paintings: 

otôtêmiwêwin friendship – ᐅᑑᑌᒥᐍᐏᐣ

manatisiwin ekwa manahcihitowin – respect for oneself and others – ᒪᓇᑎᓯᐏᐣ ᐁᑿ ᒪᓇᐦᒋᐦᐃᑐᐏᐣ

kiskinwahasimowêwin – accepting guidance – ᑭᐢᑭᐣᐘᐦᐊᓯᒧᐍᐏᐣ 

kiskanowapâkêwin – keen sense of observation – ᑭᐢᑲᓄᐘᐸᑫᐏᐣ 

miyo-wîcêhôtowin– getting along – ᒥᔪ ᐑᒉᐦᐆᑐᐏᐣ 

okihtowihiwewin – generosity – ᐅᑭᐦᑐᐏᐦᐃᐍᐏᐣ 

kisêwâtisiwin – loving kindness – ᑭᓭᐚᑎᓯᐏᐣ 

mâmawohkamâtowin – working together – ᒫᒪᐓᐦᑲᒫᑐᐏᐣ

wâhkôhtowin – kinship – ᐚᐦᑰᐦᑐᐏᐣ

wicihitowin – sharing – ᐑᒋᐦᐃᑐᐏᐣ 

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