Author Archives: Arden Ogg

About Arden Ogg

Arden Ogg is Director of the Cree Literacy Network, launched in 2010 with the goal of creating Cree language literacy materials suitable for use by learners of all ages.

In Memoriam: Darren Okemaysim – Blessings (y-dialect)

Posted on October 30, 2019 by Arden Ogg

There is sad news today of the passing of Darren Okemaysim at the age of 53. miyo-pimohtêho, nitôtêm: Travel well, my friend. May the ancestors greet you with joy.  (Find the official obituary here.)  We were blessed to have Darren … Continue reading →

Posted in Darren Okemaysim, In Memoriam | 19 Comments

A quote from Gary Zukov: Solomon Ratt (y-dialect)

Posted on October 22, 2019 by Arden Ogg

Thanks to Solomon Ratt for translating this hopeful, positive thought from American spiritual teacher Gary Zukay into y-dialect.  kîspin kipakosêyimon nawac ta-sâkihitohk êkwa nawac ta-kisêwâtisihk ôta askîhk, kiya nîkân sâkihiwê êkwa kisêwâtisi; kîspin kipakosêyimon ta-âstamipayik kostâciwin ôta askîhk âstamipayihtâ kiya … Continue reading →

Posted in Audio (y-dialect), Solomon Ratt | 1 Comment

Unifying Written Inuktitut: Choosing Standard Spelling to Support Language Retention

Posted on October 17, 2019 by Arden Ogg

What does a 21st-century Indigenous language sound like? How does it use print to promote literacy and help sustain itself? These questions are the foundation of everything we do at the Cree Literacy Network. Who knew the Inuit have been … Continue reading →

Posted in Community News, Learn to Read - SRO, Literacy and Learning, Syllabics | Leave a comment

My Heart Fills with Happiness: 550,000 Books in Plains Cree distributed across Canada

Posted on October 16, 2019 by Arden Ogg

My heart fills with happiness whenever I see the artwork of Governor General’s award-winning illustrator Julie Flett. It swells just a little more to count Julie among the friends of Literacy, Cree language revitalization, and the use of consistent standard … Continue reading →

Posted in Books for Kids, From the Mainstream | Leave a comment

môswa kâ-itâpacihiht / How Moose can be Used: Solomon Ratt (th- and y-dialects)

Posted on October 15, 2019 by Arden Ogg

Thanks to Solomon Ratt for his text (and PowerPoint, and reading) and Christine Ravenis for her gorgeous images, shared together in this lesson video. Watch and read along, or scroll down to find text in printable form.

Posted in Audio (th-dialect), Audio (y-dialect), Cree Cultural Literacy, Solomon Ratt, Video | Leave a comment

Thanksgiving 2019: Solomon Ratt (th-dialect)

Posted on October 12, 2019 by Arden Ogg

anohc ikwa tahto-kîsikâw:ninanâskomon ê-mithwâthwâyâcik nicawâsimisak ikwa nôsisimak; ninanâskomon îkâ awasimî î-âpacihtâyân minihkwîwin ikwa maci-maskihkiya; ninanâskomon î-kaskihtâyân ta-kanawâpahtamân askiy tâpiskôc awâsis: ita kahkithaw kîkway î-mâmaskâsâpahtamân kahkithaw kîkway î-mithonâkwahk.mitho-nanâskomowikîsikanisik tahto-kîsikâw ᐊᓄᐦᐨ ᐃᑿ ᑕᐦᑐ ᑮᓯᑳᐤ:ᓂᓇᓈᐢᑯᒧᐣ ᐁ ᒥᙽᙽᔮᒋᐠ ᓂᒐᐚᓯᒥᓴᐠ ᐃᑿ ᓅᓯᓯᒪᐠ; ᓂᓇᓈᐢᑯᒧᐣ ᐄᑳ ᐊᐘᓯᒦ ᐄ ᐋᐸᒋᐦᑖᔮᐣ ᒥᓂᐦᑹᐏᐣ ᐃᑿ … Continue reading →

Posted in Audio (th-dialect), Solomon Ratt, Thanksgiving | Leave a comment

miskanâw – Country Road – Solomon Ratt (th-dialect)

Posted on October 12, 2019 by Arden Ogg

I may be wrong, but this beautiful, flat gravel road, looks like it’s from Muskeg Lake Cree Nation. Locals there swear they’ve got the best, flattest rez roads in Saskatchewan, thanks to Milton Greyeyes and his powerful skills with the … Continue reading →

Posted in Audio (th-dialect), Solomon Ratt, Songs in Cree | Leave a comment

Wooden and Magnetic Syllabics Sets!

Posted on October 11, 2019 by Arden Ogg

Contact Diane Ellis directly to learn more about these great sets (but be sure to tell her the Cree Literacy Network sent you!) The sets are customized to reflect the language (so Cree sets don’t have Inuit characters, and so … Continue reading →

Posted in Resource Catalogs, Syllabics | Leave a comment

Today, I can do anything! (y-dialect)

Posted on October 10, 2019 by Arden Ogg

Sometimes we all need a little encouragement, so after you listen to Sol and repeat (at least) four times, please be sure to pass on the message.* Feel free to print and share as well! Thanks to Lawrence Lamouche, Wayne … Continue reading →

Posted in Audio (y-dialect), Printable, Solomon Ratt | 1 Comment

Cree Prisoner’s Song: William Burn Stick c. 1966

Posted on October 9, 2019 by Arden Ogg

The late Tyrone Tootoosis, Jr is sorely missed, though his spirit remains with many. I suspect it’s his post from five years ago this week that has the Cree Prisoner’s Song circulating on FaceBook once again. Here’s what Tyrone said … Continue reading →

Posted in Audio (y-dialect), Cree Cultural Literacy, Songs in Cree | 2 Comments