I’m not sure what inspired this thought today from Darren Okemaysim, but it made me proud to feel that his words extend to me, and to Arok Wolvengrey, and our respective places in the extended adopted family of the late Freda Ahenakew that we work to honour every day. Thank you, Darren, for allowing me to share this – and for the work of inclusion that you also undertake. (And sorry, especially to Gloria and Barb, that this isn’t a better photo!)
kâ-nêhiyawêhk ôma kipê-kiskêyihtênânaw iyikohk ê-sôhkêpayik wâhkôhtowin. êkây kîspin kêhcinâ ê-wâhkômâyâhk awiyak kitotinânaw êkwa ê-pê-tâpâhkômâyâhk. êkosi anima wâpahcikâtêw nêhiyânâhk piko itê.
ᑳ ᓀᐦᐃᔭᐍᕽ ᐆᒪ ᑭᐯ ᑭᐢᑫᔨᐦᑌᓈᓇᐤ ᐃᔨᑯᕽ ᐁ ᓲᐦᑫᐸᔨᐠ ᐚᐦᑰᐦᑐᐏᐣ᙮ ᐁᑳᕀ ᑮᐢᐱᐣ ᑫᐦᒋᓈ ᐁ ᐚᐦᑰᒫᔮᕽ ᐊᐏᔭᐠ ᑭᑐᑎᓈᓇᐤ ᐁᑿ ᐁ ᐯ ᑖᐹᐦᑰᒫᔮᕽ᙮ ᐁᑯᓯ ᐊᓂᒪ ᐚᐸᐦᒋᑳᑌᐤ ᓀᐦᐃᔮᓈᕽ ᐱᑯ ᐃᑌ᙮
As we speak Cree, we know the strength of family. If we are not related, we adopt someone so that we become related. That is seen throughout Cree country.
Here is Darren’s phonetic pronunciation key (maybe some day we’ll convince him to record himself!)
kaa-nay.hi.ya.wayhk…oe-mu…ki.pay-kis.key’h.tey.naa.noe…ee.yi.kohk…ey-soe’h.key.pu.yik…waah.koe.to.win….ey.keye…kees.pin…keh.chi.naa…ey-waah.koe.maa.yaahk…u.wi.yuk…ki.to.ti.naa.noe…ey.gwu…ey-pey-taa.paah.koe.maa.yaahk….ey.ko.si…u.ni.mu…waa.paah.tsik.kaa.tayoo…ney.hi.yaa.naahk.
