Somebody wrote yesterday, “After the day is done and you tuck your orange shirt away until next September, remember that Indigenous people don’t get the same luxury to tuck their trauma away.”
To this non-Indigenous person who works with Cree every day, today seems like a good time to think about a question Dorothy Thunder was asked last week when she read a book in Cree as a guest in an Teacher Education (ATEP) class at the University of Alberta: “How can non-Indigenous people help support Cree language revitalization?”
For myself, I will never forget hearing the great hereditary Mi’kmaq Chief Stephen Augustine speak the Canadian Museum of Civilization, acknowledging the work of linguists. He likened Indigenous languages to canoes, and thanked the linguists who got in to help paddle – even though the canoe would never be theirs.
It was a great metaphor for helping humbly, while respecting the autonomy and rights of the people to whom the language has always, will always, truly belong. Being allowed to help paddle this particular canoe is an honour in itself. It comes with an obligation to be a good guest: don’t stand up; keep your centre of gravity low; no shouting at your companions (nobody likes a mahkitôn “big mouth”)! Steering is not your job (unless you’re asked). If the canoe is leaking, be quiet and keep bailing!
Luckily, on a day-to-day basis, there are other, simpler ways we can humbly, constructively show our support for language reclamation. Here are a few ideas:
- Learn some simple vocabulary and use it often. tânisi as a greeting, ay-hay or êkosi as thanks. wâcistakâc as “goodness! or ‘what the heck?'”, takahki as “great!” mwêstas for “later” (because Cree doesn’t really say “goodbye”). Let language learners know that you’re trying, too, to normalize the presence of ordinary Cree words in daily life. Click the links above, and you’ll find audio examples for almost all of these simple words in the itwêwina online Cree dictionary.
- Give books as gifts to friends and family that showcase Cree language and culture. Books for kids are getting more beautiful by the day, but there are also text collections that help build awareness of Cree history and traditional culture at a more sophisticated level. Need suggestions? Have a look at this Cree Literacy link.
- Give books as gifts to teachers, classrooms, school and public libraries where Cree language material may be underrepresented. One particularly appropriate choice is Melanie Florence’s Stolen Words from Second Story Press, that addresses language loss reclamation directly. And Second Story even provides free online teachers’ guides for both the English and the Plains Cree editions. And the e-book edition includes read-along audio with Dolores Greyeyes Sand.
- Display a little Cree in your day-to-day environment, at home or even in your workplace. Print out a meme (or two) from this Cree Literacy link. There are lots to choose from, they’re free, print lots and change them often. Learn how to say the words in Cree (most links have audio), and be prepared to recite them for anyone who’s curious. You never know who they might encourage!
- Print and hang the Cree language calendar we produce here every year. It’s another resource that’s free to download and print (or have printed and bound). Print one for yourself, or print a handful as gifts. It’s a great reminder that reclamation takes place one step – or one day – at a time.
- Invite a Cree speaker in to read to kids If you are a teacher or librarian (or manage a kids’ group like scouts or guides). Even young kids glow when their identity is validated in this way, and we never know what seeds may take root.
- Join a Cree language class. But remember the canoe analogy: you’re not there to be a show-off. Non-Indigenous cultural conditioning encourages students who speak up loudly and often; Indigenous cultural conditioning values a more humble approach. It’s not uncommon for Indigenous students to feel shame that they don’t know the language, and unfair expectations that their learning should be automatic. If your behaviour drowns out Indigenous students, you may be contributing to trauma. Nobody needs that!
- This is a big one, but shows a powerful commitment: If you or your employer are in a position involving public service announcements, consider creating a Cree edition (with help from a fully fluent speaker/partner), as Véronique Mireault did for Saskatchewan Aids Programs.
- This one comes with apologies if it sounds self-serving, but donations to organizations like the Cree Literacy Network help those of us who can do more, continue to do more. They also help us ensure that the help we offer continues to be available at no charge to those who may need it most.
Yes, some of these steps involve more commitment than others, but a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. In the words of TRC Commissioner Justice Murray Sinclair, “We have described for you a mountain, we have shown you the path to the top. We call upon you to do the climbing.”
With thanks to my fellow non-Indigenous Cree language warriors: Shannon Dumba, Véronique Mireault, Chris Ravenis, Angela Van Essen and others (y’all know who you are!) The comments section is a great place to add additional suggestions!
