Avalanche! Sol Hikes to Bourgeau Lake (y-dialect)

For the final question on his Cree 202 exam, Sol asked his students to either translate his text about a hike to Bourgeau Lake in Banff National Park, or to answer questions. The exam included a word list for students to work with. Sol reports that his students did great – and once the exam was over, he prepared the text as a PowerPoint video with photos (that he couldn’t include on the test), and now we get to share it too, reading along with him. (The PowerPoint video includes Sol’s own English translation.)

Text: Avalanche!

 pēyakwāw, nīpinohk, ē-kīkisēpāyāk, nānitaw tēpakohp tipahikan ē-kī-ispayik, nikī-māci-sēsāwohtān wacīhk. nānitaw nikotwāsik cipahaskānisa isko ta-pimohtēyān Bourgeau Lake isi, ēkwa kāwi ta-pē-kîwēyohtēyān nisēhkēpayīsihk isi, māmawi nīsosāp cipahaskānisa ta-pimohtēyān.

mētoni kinwēsk kā-kī-sēsāwohtēyān ispīhk kā-takosiniyān Bourgeau Lake. miyonākwana ēkotē sākahikanis ēkwa waciya, êkwa miskwamiy ispacisāmatināhk ē-apit. nikī-ati-āpihtā-kīsikani-mīcison, ē-wēwēkinak sōsāsiw napaki-pāhkwēsikanisihk. kētahtāwē kā-pēhtamān kīkway ē-matwēwēk, tāpiskōc piyēsiwak ē-kitocik, ēkwa niwāpamāw miskwamiy ē-pē-nihcipahkisihk wacīhk ohci. nikī-sēkihik māka ātawiya akāmihk sākahikanisihk kā-pahkisihk miskwamiy. kī-miyo-kīsikāw.

Ready to test yourself? Answer the following questions.

(The text above is in the 1st person, questions and answers are in the 3rd person)

  1. tânispîhk awa kâ-sêsâwohtêt wacîhk?
    A: nânitaw têpakohp tipahikan ê-ispayiyik sêsâwohtêw wacîhk.
  2. kîkisêpâyâyiw cî kâ-mâci-sêsâwohtêt?
    A: âha, kîkisêpâyâyiw kâ-mâci-sêsâwohtêt.
  1. tânitahto tipahahikan kâ-mâci-sêsâwohtêt?
    A: nikotwâsik tipahikan ê-ispayiyik kâ-mâci-sêsâwohtêt.
  1. tânitê awa ê-itohtêt?
    A: Bourgeau Lake awa kâ-itohtêt.
  1. tânitahto mâmawi cipahaskânisa pimohtêw?
    A: nîsosâp mâmawi cipahaskânisa pimohtêw.
  1. kinwêsk cî pimohtêw Bourgeau Lake isi?
    A: âha, kinwêsk pimohtêw Bourgeau Lake isi
  1. wâpamêw cî miskwamiya ispacisâmatinâhk ê-apiyit?
    A: âha, wâpamêw miskwamiya ispacisâmatinâhk ê-apiyit.
  1. kîkway kâ-wî-mîcit?
    A:  sôsâsiwa wî-mowêw.
  1. kîkway kêtahtwêw kâ-pêhtahk?
    A: kêtahtwêw kâ-pêhtahk tâpiskôc piyêsiwa ê-kitoyit.
  1. miskwamiy cî ê-pê-nihcipahkisihk wacîhk ohci?
    A: âha, miskwamiy ê-pê-nihcipahkisihk wacîhk ohci.

Vocabulary Used

CreeEnglish
akâmihk across the water
âpihtâ-kîsikani-mîcisow s/he eats lunch
apiw s/he sits
âtawiya at least
ati- begin (PV)
cipahaskânis kilometer (NI)
êkotê over there
êkwa and
isi toward
isko up to
ispacisâmatinâhk alongside of a mountain/hill
ispayin it happens
ispîhk when
kâwi back
kêtahtâwê suddenly
kîkisêpâyâw it is morning
kîkway something
kinwêsk a long time
kitowak they make a sound, sounds of thunderbirds
kiwêyohtêw s/he walks back home
mâci- begin (PV)
mâka but
mâmawi altogether
matwêwêw it makes a sound in the distance
mêtoni very
miskwamiy ice, glacier
miyo-kîsikâw it is a good day
miyonâkwan it looks beautiful
nânitaw about
napaki-pâhkwêsikanis tortilla
nihcipahkisin it falls down (animate)
nikotwâsik six
nîpin it is summer
nîsosâp - twelve
ohci from
pahkisin s/he falls
pê- come (PV)
pêhtam s/he hears s.t.
pêyakwâw Once
pimohtêw s/he walks
piyêsiwak thunder(birds)
sâkahikanis small lake
sêhkêpayîs car
sêkihêw s/he scares s.o.
sêsâwohtêw s/he hikes
sôsâsiwsalmon
takosin s/he arrives
tâpiskôc just like
têpakohp seven
tipahikan time
waciy mountain
wâpamêw s/he sees s.o.
wêwêkinêw s/he wraps s.o.

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