Category Archives: Language Lessons

Ready to learn something useful right now? There are lessons of every size in our archive: learn a new word or whole set (vocabulary); learn how words work together (grammar); learn what to say to another speaker (conversation). Explore at your own pace.

miyo okâwîmâwi-kîsikanisik: Happy Mother’s Day

Posted on May 11, 2019 by Arden Ogg
Posted in Mother's Day | 1 Comment

Cree: Language of the Plains – Free Downloads – with audio by Jean Okimâsis

Posted on May 3, 2019 by Arden Ogg

Exciting news for Cree language learners, through the generosity of Dr Jean Okimâsis and University of Regina Press.  Not only is Jean’s classic textbook now available for free download in “Open Textbook” format, it is now also available in free … Continue reading →

Posted in Audio (y-dialect), Book News, Books for Language Learners, Language Lessons | Leave a comment

Beading Terms from itwêwina Online Dictionary

Posted on May 3, 2019 by Arden Ogg

Someone asked for beading terms recently on FaceBook. It’s no substitute for sitting down and talking with a genuine Cree-speaking beading expert, but I was able to find a whole bunch of beading words by searching with keywords in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Cree Cultural Literacy, Literacy and Learning | Leave a comment

kinipān cī / Are you sleeping? (y-dialect, audio)

Posted on April 22, 2019 by Arden Ogg

(An adaptation for Plains Cree of “Frère Jacques” (English: “Are You Sleeping”) by Arok Wolvengrey. Singing assistance by Solomon Ratt.) kinipān cī, kinipān cī, nistēs John? nistēs John? pē-tēpwēstamākēw, pē-tēpwēstamākēw: “waniskā! waniskā!”* kinipān cī, kinipān cī, nimis Joan? nimis Joan? … Continue reading →

Posted in Audio (y-dialect), Songs in Cree | Leave a comment

SRO and Alphabet Soup: Building Cree Language Literacy through Standard Spelling

Posted on April 17, 2019 by Arden Ogg

The Cree language may disappear before arguments about spelling come to an end, but here, for the record, is the text of a 2011 presentation given in Winnipeg by Ken Paupanekis & Arden Ogg. Ken Paupanekis is a Native speaker … Continue reading →

Posted in Learn to Read - SRO, Literacy and Learning | 1 Comment

Star Vocabulary from Wilfred Buck – SRO, y-dialect

Posted on March 3, 2019 by Arden Ogg

Wilfred Buck’s Tipiskawi Kisik / Night Sky Star Stories must have reached best seller status at McNally Robinson – and at Manitoba First Nations Education Centre where it was produced. It’s really a beauty. Here’s a link that includes a … Continue reading →

Posted in Astronomy, Learn New Words | Leave a comment

Solomon Goes Shopping: y-dialect

Posted on March 3, 2019 by Arden Ogg

This video from Solomon Ratt offers a lot more lessons in language and “shopping culture” than you might expect, and leaves you with unexpected feels. While you’re learning vocabulary and pronunciation, take a moment to acknowledge the parts that *should … Continue reading →

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

Happy 2019 from Solomon Ratt and CLN

Posted on December 31, 2018 by Arden Ogg
Posted in New Years, New Years | Leave a comment

Santa Visits Saddle Lake 2018 (video)

Posted on December 13, 2018 by Arden Ogg

miyo-manitôwi-kîsikanisik onîhcîkiskwapiwinihk! In a brilliant display of mutual cultural appreciation, Santa made his first visit of 2018 to Saddle Lake Cree Nation in Alberta this week. The kids appreciated him so much, we can’t even hear what the drum group … Continue reading →

Posted in Christmas, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

2018: pawâcakinisîsipîsim / ᐸᐚᒐᑭᓂᓰᓯᐲᓯᒼ / December

Posted on November 30, 2018 by Arden Ogg

Thanks to Solomon Ratt for allowing the Cree Literacy Network to share his 2018 calendar, complete with his own original illustrations.

Posted in Calendar | Tagged , | Leave a comment