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-manitowi-kîsikanisi oskaskêwiki miyopayiwin: W.T. Goodspirit & The Legacies (y-dialect)

Posted on December 3, 2019 by Arden Ogg

Thanks to Wayne Jackson (the driving force behind the FaceBook group Nêhiyawêwin (Cree) Word/Phrase of the Day for permission to share this energetic, singable Christmas recording that is may make you grin from ear to ear. According to Wayne’s fellow … Continue reading →

Posted in Audio (y-dialect), Christmas, Wayne (Goodspirit) Jackson | Leave a comment

Rock Your Mocs Week, 9-16 November 2019

Posted on November 14, 2019 by Arden Ogg

takahkiska kipahkêkinaskisina. ᑕᑲᐦᑭᓴᑲ ᑭᐸᐦᑫᑭᓇᐢᑭᓇ᙮ Look good wearing your moccasins.   cihkêyihta ta-kikiskaman kipahkêkinaskisina. ᒋᐦᑫᔨᐦᑕ ᑕᑭᑭᐢᑲᒪᐣ ᑭᐸᐦᑫᑭᓇᐢᑭᓇ᙮Be happy to wear your moccasins.  We love the whole idea of “Rock your Mocs” as to reminder to embrace and celebrate Indigenous heritage by showing … Continue reading →

Posted in Literacy and Learning, Rock Your Mocs, Solomon Ratt | Leave a comment

A Cree Reminiscence from WWI: Rev. Canon Edward Ahenakew

Posted on November 8, 2019 by Arden Ogg

From the January 29, 1921 issue of the Winnipeg Evening Tribune (held in the digital collections of the University of Manitoba Archives), comes a Battle Ballad written by Rev. Canon Edward Ahenakew, looking back on the First World War.  Ahenakew … Continue reading →

Posted in Remembrance Day | Leave a comment

Honouring Indigenous Veterans 2019

Posted on November 8, 2019 by Arden Ogg

In honour of Indigenous Veterans Day, and of Remembrance Day coming up, I am proud to share this photo of Edward Ahenakew, given to me by his granddaughter Elaine Greyeyes. Edward was born at Atahkahkoop, SK, and named for his … Continue reading →

Posted in Audio (y-dialect), Remembrance Day, Video | Leave a comment

Prayer for Protectors: Solomon Ratt (y-dialect)

Posted on November 7, 2019 by Arden Ogg

nimawimostamawâwak kahkiyaw kâ-nâkatêyihtahkik kinipîminaw êkwa kitaskinâw. hay hay ᓂᒪᐏᒧᐢᑕᒪᐚᐘᐠ ᑲᐦᑭᔭᐤ ᑳ ᓈᑲᑌᔨᐦᑕᐦᑭᐠ ᑭᓂᐲᒥᓇᐤ ᐁᑿ ᑭᑕᐢᑭᓈᐤ᙮ ᐦᐊᕀ ᐦᐊᕀ I pray for all who take care of our water and our land, hay hay.

Posted in Audio (y-dialect), Prayers, Solomon Ratt | Leave a 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

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

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