There is so much joy each year in seeing students of all ages achieve educational milestones. There may be even more joy in watching year to year as their numbers grow, and Cree communities embrace the success and the pride that was always their right.
I’m re-sharing a small collection of audio congratulations in Cree (below), to express our collective best wishes in Cree (and encourage others to do the same!) I’m also sharing a small gallery my favourite grad images and videos from FaceBook this year that capture that growing reclamation of pride and recognition of achievement.
Some tug heartstrings with or without a personal connection, like the two Kindergarten wildfilre evacuees from LaRonge who were gowned up and celebrated with their peers at James Smith, or that wonderful video from Maskwacis where the line of grads keeps going and going and going. These are just mâmaskâc!
A surprising number this year are personal acquaintances: our own contributor Cynthia Cook completed graduate work at the University of Saskatchewan. Rosanna Deerchild was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Manitoba. Winston – who received his Honorary Doctorate six years ago – was there to sing a Cree honour song. My dear, late, “Mighty Helen” would be so very proud of her grandson Stephen who finished high school in Winnipeg. Elora Cromarty is currently teaching Cree at Uof M, but heading to MIT in the fall to join their Indigenous Languages Initiative program. And I hope you’ll excuse me for sneaking in my own son Jesse, another brand new UofM grad and frequent Cree Literacy Network volunteer.
(I apologize for gathering photos this year without attribution: please let me know and I’ll be sure to add credit where it’s due.)
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)
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)
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)
ka-wî-miyopayinâwâw ôtê niyâk!
ᑲ ᐑ ᒥᔪᐸᔨᓈᐚᐤ ᐆᑌ ᓂᔮᐠ!
May things go well for you in the future. (Wayne Jackson)
kimahmihcihāwak kahkiyaw kiwahkomākanak.
ᑭᒪᐦᒥᐦᒋᐦᐋᐘᐠ ᑲᐦᑭᔭᐤ ᑭᐘᐦᑯᒫᑲᓇᐠ᙮
You make all your relations proud. (Simon Bird)
tâpwê kihci! kimamihcihinân!
ᑖᐻ ᑭᐦᒋ! ᑭᒪᒥᐦᒋᐦᐃᓈᐣ!
Truly great! You make us proud. (Solomon Ratt)
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.
