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