Two eagles flew in front of Solomon Ratt yesterday as he drove west toward Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation (Alberta) to do some storytelling. They reminded him of this solo eagle, photographed last summer at Upper Masset, Haida Gwaii. who seemed to be ready with a message for the whole world. In honour of International Mother Language Day, Sol offers this message in gratitude.
Perhaps you’ll join us in sharing and amplifying the message by listening and reading along. Scroll down for details about today’s SLCN event that you’re also welcome to join via Zoom.
anohc ôma misiwîskamik okâwîmâwi-pîkiskwîwin kîsikâw:
nika-pakitinâw cistîmâw; nika-kâkîsimon;
nika-nîhithawîmototawâwak ithiniwak;
nika-nîhithawi-âcimon ikwa nika-nîhithawi-âcathôhkân;
nika-ayamihtân nîhithawascikîwin.
kîspin kita-kî-ispathik nika-nihithawîsimon.
ninanâskomon kiyâpic î-nisitohtamân nîhithawîwin ikwa mîna kiyâpic î-nîhithawîyân
ᐊᓄᐦᐨ ᐆᒪ ᒥᓯᐑᐢᑲᒥᐠ ᐅᑳᐑᒫᐏ ᐲᑭᐢᑹᐏᐣ ᑮᓯᑳᐤ:
ᓂᑲ ᐸᑭᑎᓈᐤ ᒋᐢᑏᒫᐤ; ᓂᑲ ᑳᑮᓯᒧᐣ;
ᓂᑲ ᓃᐦᐃᖬᐑᒧᑐᑕᐚᐘᐠ ᐃᖨᓂᐘᐠ;
ᓂᑲ ᓃᐦᐃᖬᐏ ᐋᒋᒧᐣ ᐃᑿ ᓂᑲ ᓃᐦᐃᖬᐏ ᐋᒐᖫᐦᑳᐣ;
ᓂᑲ ᐊᔭᒥᐦᑖᐣ ᓃᐦᐃᖬᐘᐢᒋᑮᐏᐣ᙮
ᑮᐢᐱᐣ ᑭᑕ ᑮ ᐃᐢᐸᖨᐠ ᓂᑲ ᓂᐦᐃᖬᐑᓯᒧᐣ᙮
ᓂᓇᓈᐢᑯᒧᐣ ᑭᔮᐱᐨ ᐄ ᓂᓯᑐᐦᑕᒫᐣ ᓃᐦᐃᖬᐑᐏᐣ ᐃᑿ ᒦᓇ ᑭᔮᐱᐨ ᐄ ᓃᐦᐃᖬᐑᔮᐣ᙮
Today is International Mother Languages Day:
I will set tobacco down;
I will pray;
I will speak Cree to people;
I will tell stories in Cree and I will tell traditional stories in Cree.
If it were possible I would dance in Cree.
I am grateful that I can still understand Cree and I can still speak Cree.
