Cree Literacy Network

Kids (of all ages) graduating this year have borne a special burden through pandemic and quarantine, home schools and unexpected distance learning. Now, as we enter the traditional season of graduation and celebration, we see our neighbours to the south convulsed in societal upheaval that (truth be told) is just as long overdue, and just as badly needed here in Canada.

We are especially proud of these 2020 graduates – at every level of education – as they reach this milestone in their collective lives. We have tremendous hope that, having survived these unique 2020 challenges, they will go on to persist, and succeed, and lead, and live well, no matter what. No matter where they’re from in the Cree language continuum, we all wish each of them long, happy years of miyo-pimâtisiwin, mîtho-pimâtisiwin, mîno-pimâtisiwin, mîlo-pimâtisiwin. 

The Cree Literacy Network is just a small part of a big community that embraces them all to wish them well. To help spread the good wishes, we have gathered words of congratulations from a variety of Cree teachers (each with audio), to help parents, grandparents and teachers to join us in acknowledging their achievements. Perhaps these wishes will also help you, the graduates, to congratulate one another on all you’ve made it through together, and wish each other future success. 

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kahkiyaw kâ-kîsihtâyêk kikiskinwahamâkosiwiniwâwa, kimamihcihtâsonâwâw.

ᑲᐦᑭᔭᐤ ᑳ ᑮᓯᐦᑖᔦᐠ ᑭᑭᐢᑭᓌᐦᐊᒫᑯᓯᐏᓂᐚᐘ, ᑭᒪᒥᐦᒋᐦᑖᓱᓈᐚᐤ᙮

All you who are graduating, congratulations. 
literally: “All of you who are finishing your schooling, you make everyone (in the community) proud!” (Solomon Ratt) 

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mistahi kikihcêyimitinân ê-yahkohtêyêk.

ᒥᐢᑕᐦᐃ ᑭᑭᐦᒉᔨᒥᑎᓈᐣ ᐁ ᔭᐦᑯᐦᑌᔦᐠ᙮

“We think very highly of you upon your graduation.”
Literally: ‘We respect you a lot as you move forward / graduate.’  (Jean Okimâsis) 

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mamihcihiso;  ahkamêyimo!

ᒪᒥᐦᒋᐦᐃᓱ;  ᐊᐦᑲᒣᔨᒧ!

Be proud of yourself; Persevere! (to one person) 

mamihcihisok;  ahkamêyimok!

ᒪᒥᐦᒋᐦᐃᓱᐠ;  ᐊᐦᑲᒣᔨᒧᐠ!

Be proud of yourself; Persevere!  (to more than one person) (Dolores Sand)

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ka-wî-miyopayinâwâw ôtê niyâk!

ᑲ ᐑ ᒥᔪᐸᔨᓈᐚᐤ ᐆᑌ ᓂᔮᐠ!

May things go well for you in the future. (Wayne Jackson)

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kimahmihcihāwak kahkiyaw kiwahkomākanak.

ᑭᒪᐦᒥᐦᒋᐦᐋᐘᐠ ᑲᐦᑭᔭᐤ ᑭᐘᐦᑯᒫᑲᓇᐠ᙮

You make all your relations proud. (Simon Bird) 

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tâpwê kihci! kimamihcihinân!

ᑖᐻ ᑭᐦᒋ! ᑭᒪᒥᐦᒋᐦᐃᓈᐣ!

Truly great! You make us proud. (Solomon Ratt) 

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Finally, one from a môniyaw struggler (to help encourage other strugglers!)

kipakosêyimitinân miyo-pimâtisiwin. (y-dialect) 

ᑭᐸᑯᓭᔨᒥᑎᓈᐣ ᒥᔪ ᐱᒫᑎᓯᐏᐣ᙮

We wish a good life for all of you. 

kipakosîthimitinân mitho-pimâtisiwin. (th-dialect) 

ᑭᐸᑯᓰᖨᒥᑎᓈᐣ ᒥᖪ ᐱᒫᑎᓯᐏᐣ᙮

We wish a good life for all of you.