Category Archives: Cree

Cree language words with translation

Bethany the Girl Ghost (cīpay iskwīsis) – Introduces her Friends VIDEO

I made a video clip for Halloween. A ghost girl named Bethany introduces her friends to us in Woodland Cree.

Animation is very time-consuming but the end product is fun to watch. Thank goodness there are multiple online sources for images, video, and audio. All I need to do is put it all together using Adobe Animate and Movavi Video Suite. I have older versions of the software here at home, but they work just fine. If I had the time, I would contract out my services for cheap animation. Who knows, maybe I can make time, it is fun stuff to produce.

The idea for this animation, came to me a bit late and too close to Halloween. I want to make more animations and cannot wait until my inspirations entice me to put in the effort.

Devil – maci-manitow

Witch – maci-nōcokwīsīs

Zombie – miyaw kā-pimohtīpathik

Clown – mōhcohkān

Vampire – akahkway

Bat – apahkwācīs

Many of the Cree terms come from one of my favourite Cree websites: https://itwewina.altlab.app/

Images were supplied by PIXABAY.COM – FREE!!!

Ghost Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay

Bat Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay

Background Image by Syaibatul Hamdi from Pixabay

Zombie Image by Amanda Elizabeth from Pixabay

Devil Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay

Witch Image by GraphicMama-team from Pixabay

Mummy Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay

Dracula Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay

Clown Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay

Tree moon Video by Joe Hackney from Pixabay

Cree Commentary – 70 Days without Alcohol


I have been sober for a total of 70 days. 10 weeks without a drop of alcohol. It has been very difficult for me, considering I used to drink every weekend. It may have been more difficult if I had drunk every day. I am happy to be where I am right now and I hope it stays that way.

My health has improved and so has my weight training. I walk more often, except for a few days when my knee was sore, but that is bound to happen when you have not been active regularly. My muscle memory is improving every week, so much so that I am going to have to watch myself and not get injured.

I have not started any intense exercise such as jogging, but I do go on a stationary bike sometimes. I would like to save my knees for when I am older, I am currently 48 years of age and I have seen too many of our middle-aged friends and family members with bad knees. I did have a bit of a scare last week but my knee is much better now. I hyperextended it by tossing and turning, of all things. Who knows, maybe I weakened it by going too hard on the stationary bike or by walking too fast.

 

Weight training Image by Pexels from Pixabay

atōspīwinākwan papakiwayān – Orange Shirt 2022

I have seen many posts on Facebook by survivours that did not make it home. If you are Indigenous, chances are, you have been affected by residential schools.

kahkithaw awāsisak akisowak – Every Child Matters

atōspīwinākwan papakiwayān – Orange Shirt

When you really think about it, we are all affected in some way. We all live together on this land and we all affect each other one way or another. It would be remiss for anybody, not to acknowledge the terrible history of residential schools, day schools, and other places where Indigenous people were supposed to be “assimilated” into mainstream society.

While it does not make up for the atrocities, I find it welcoming that Orange Shirt Day has been recognized across our nation. I have read the story of Phyllis and her orange shirt that she was so proud of. It is a very disheartening story, I cannot imagine the horror she went through and the very indecent and atrocious “welcoming” she received when she first attended school (https://www.orangeshirtday.org/phyllis-story.html).

I hope this day brings awareness to all of our country and to the world. We can never forget what took place and we must try to find out what happened to those left behind. I really hope we can all live in peace and harmony someday. I hope we can all accept each other and our diverse beliefs, the way it should have started when the settlers arrived.

Please have a look at the new images that I have been working on. I took a lot of time because I was getting more and more indecisive. I finally decided to post three different designs that you know of, lol.

You will notice in two of the images, I use a fifth hand (orange hand), it is to represent the missing children that never came home to their loving families.

If you want to print any of these images out to a t-shirt, please feel free, as long as you keep my website logo on the side.   I further request that you donate any profits to a charitable organization that recognizes victims of residential schools.

Design

Dimensions: 5949×5949 Pixels
Filesize: 1.9 MB
Resolution: 325 DPI
Image format: PNG Download ⇓

Dimensions: 5949×5949 Pixels
Filesize: 1.5 MB
Resolution: 325 DPI
Image format: PNG Download ⇓

Dimensions: 5949×5949 Pixels
Filesize: 1.7 MB
Resolution: 325 DPI
Image format: PNG Download ⇓

I realize and understand, that the translation and/or interpretation of the phrase, “Every Child Matters” has been discussed and debated on social media. However, I will not be participating in such a subjective topic because it can easily be taken out of context in both text and tone, thank you for understanding.

ORANGE SHIRT DAY: Every Child Matters

http://www.orangeshirtday.org/

Wiki – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orange_Shirt_Day

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation – Canada.ca

Image Sources:
hand-310884.png Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay
t-shirt-294078.png Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay
feather-833327.png Image by Ewey from Pixabay
dreamcatcher-3290331.png Image by A K from Pixabay
common-1300520.png Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay

Video: takwākin – it is autumn, it is fall 2022

Check out my latest video, please share and subscribe. Thank you very much. Audio clips are at the bottom of the page.

takwākin – it is autumn, it is fall

nīpiy – leaf

nīpiya – leaves

mithonākwana nīpiya kā-takwākik – the leaves look nice when it is autumn

nīpiya ī-pahkihtīki kā-takwākik – leaves fall when it is autumn

kwayask māna ī-thohtīk kā-takwākik – it gets windy often when it is autumn

 

Weather Terms on Video

I have developed a new video for my YouTube Channel, weather terms in Woodland Cree. It is based on a past post on this website. I redid the audio to include the English translation.

I used many different videos from many different contributors to Pixabay.com.

Please find the complete list and use what you want, all the videos are Free for commercial use, and No attribution is required.

Clouds Video by Jeff Jacobs from Pixabay
Storm – 63281.mp4 Video by Simon from Pixabay
Trees – 6411.mp4 Video by Life-Of-Vids from Pixabay
Tree – 33212.mp4 Video by fasilkkme from Pixabay
Darling – 22441.mp4 Video by Victor Salazar from Pixabay
Warm Video by Caelan Kelley from Pixabay
Ice – 21.mp4 Video by DistillVideos from Pixabay
Wind – 3258.mp4 Video by Aleksandar1980 from Pixabay
Boat ramp Video by Pineapple22Productions from Pixabay
Sunrise – 83880.mp4 Video by Joe Hackney from Pixabay
Lake – 87495.mp4 Video by Joe Hackney from Pixabay
Thunderstorm – 125192.mp4 Video by Andreas from Pixabay
Clouds – 16495.mp4 Video by Max Berube from Pixabay
Hail – 32798.mp4 Video by Ignacy from Pixabay
Mountains – 54064.mp4 Video by Joe Hackney from Pixabay
Snowing – 3189.mp4 Video by Coverr-Free-Footage from Pixabay
Spring rain Video by gziku from Pixabay

Listen to the Rain Falling and Fall Asleep – nitohta kimowan īpākītihk ikwa kita nipāpathīn

I have used various sounds from YouTube to try and fall asleep, from ocean waves, rivers, and lakes, to the sound of rain. I decided to get into the act for the first time and see how it goes. I like to experiment and this might be a good little project to start with. This is the first of such a project and I am hoping that it goes well. I would like to use other settings in the future.

Audio files of dialogue:

nitohta kimowan īpākītihk ikwa kita nipāpathīn – Listen to the Rain Falling and Fall Asleep

kimiwan nīso tipahikan kita ispathiw – Rain will go on for two hours

ikosi kakwī nipā ikwa – There, now try to go to sleep

Have a good sleep- mitho nipā

There are a few websites that may help you decide to use the technique:

The nature videos I used, are free on Pixabay from three creators:

Forest – 31450.mp4 Video by & Co. from Pixabay
Tree – 85526.mp4 Video by telza from Pixabay
Forest – 31450.mp4 Video by & Co. from Pixabay

nipōni-minihkwān – I Quit Drinking

It has been 28 days since my last drink. Four weeks without alcohol, I have not gone this long without a drink in years. It was difficult staying away from drinking, considering it was one of my weekend routines. I at least purchased a 26 of whiskey, each weekend, to give me a good buzz. More often than not, it would lead to more drinking at another place or me taking a cab to get more as soon as the LB or B&W opened the next day.

I was falling behind on so many projects and I angered many people around me and even online. My family, especially my girls would have to deal with me pestering them and I was feeling ashamed about everything. I knew I needed a change.

I have been working out again and taking regular walks at an indoor track. I am finally getting used to exercise and I am feeling much, much better. Check out my video below, I shot it this morning in Cree and translated it to English text this evening.

I want to continue on this path and get healthier. I appreciate the support I have received and I would like to send a special thank you to Kevin Roberts for his offer, to whoever wanted to quit drinking, for a free membership at the gym at JRMCC. I am only on my third weight training workout but I am improving, plus my walks are getting easier.

nipōni-minihkwān – I Quit Drinking

Whisky Glasses Image by Michal Jarmoluk from Pixabay

I Created a Free Downloadable Lesson on TPT- I am Cree: Activities and Poster

This evening I decided to try out Teachers Pay Teachers. I have used it before when I was a teacher to get unique lessons for my students and it was such a joy (and a relief) to find awesome teaching resources and many for free, in all subjects.

The lesson I developed is based on a phrase I used on a Cree meme, NÊHIYAW NIYA – I AM CREE – https://firstnationstories.com/?p=3900 I opted to use Plains Cree at this time, but I would like to add a mix of Plains and Woodland Cree in the future.

Check it out, it is a FREE download! ⇓

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/I-am-Cree-Activity-and-85×11-poster-Plains-Cree-7579290

This development took me about three hours, with many breaks in between, so maybe about 2 hours tops. I can imagine it would take much more time to develop more sophisticated lessons, so it will take a while to add useful lessons.

I had fun with it and I plan on making some more lessons for download. With the work that gets put in, I will charge an appropriate price for my lessons and I hope they catch on. There are premium options that cost money and they involve digital lessons which I know I can develop, given time.

If I end up having time to develop more content, I may just do that. I can easily use the contents of my website to make lessons and the graphic work would not be that difficult. This is an exciting time!

Background Image by Larisa Koshkina from Pixabay

Thank you for visiting, and have a Happy New Year!

New Years Day in Woodland Cree

First Cree song I ever learned- “Ninestosin” by Winston Wuttunee

When I first started going to school in Hall Lake, Sally Ross School. I was introduced to the song, “Ninestosin.” The teacher played it on his guitar and I loved the song. The whole class would eventually learn and sing along. I was 10 years old at the time and I already used to hear Winston Wuttunee from the radio at home. Some family members had tapes of his performances.

There were some students who sang along perfectly and those who just mumbled the words. Cree was already losing its grip on our fellow Cree people, but songs like this were bringing it back in a way. Students would ask what certain words mean it would increase a bit of interest to learn Cree, at least a few words at a time.

There are many Cree songs available on YouTube today, and even Winston Wuttunee has his own YouTube channel and website (shared at bottom of this page).

I had the opportunity to see Winston Wuttunee when he was an MC for the Fine Arts Festival in the mid-nineties in Prince Albert, SK. I was there to enter a short story and a bow and arrow I made (I won 1st for the short story and came in third for the bow and arrow). Anyway, I was able to get a picture of him backstage with his cowboy hat on. Unfortunately, I lost the picture many years ago, it would have been nice to share it with you.

ninēstosin – I am tired

http://www.winstonwuttunee.ca/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCu4umnqZJLD38LjI4obp_iA

https://itwewina.altlab.app/word/n%C3%AAstosiw/

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Prince_Albert_Saskatchewan_in_fall_01.JPG

NASA Sends Rez Dog to Space – In my Dream

The announcement was huge, reservations all over the United States and reserves across Canada were shocked and bewildered – NASA will be sending a rez dog to space. The big question was: why?
Chuck, a big shot at NASA, was given the task of researching how a dog can stay in space and survive. The dog would need to eat and use the bathroom in space. Chuck needed to hire a young Indigenous man to take the assignment.

One of three young indigenous astronauts would need to be trained to ride spaceships up to a space station and take care of the dog there.

A search commenced across Canada and the US, to find the perfect dog to train. They had to choose a dog that would be trainable and be very versatile. Strong enough to handle the stress and pressure, to handle the difficulties of being in space. The dog would have to float around and be calm enough to not freak out and to survive. For some odd reason, they would need to get a rez dog.

Chuck interviews three young astronauts. They would need to have patience and have a love for dogs. As it turns out, all the young men are perfect. Reserves and reservations all watched the announcement on social media and news outlets. Every one of them was very happy with the choice.

The astronauts are excited about going to space and riding in their spaceships. One of them would take the dog with them. After several days of training, it was time to travel into space.

The dog floats around the space station. Looking casually at the astronauts and not causing a fuss. He eats balls of Bannock as his source of food, and is fitted with a shining silver pamper whenever he needs to “go.”

Chuck celebrates with the rest of NASA as if they landed a man on  Mars.

Then I woke up.

aski – Earth

atim – dog

nikoskopathin– I woke up

ī-pawātamān – I am dreaming

Spaceship Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay

Dog Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay

Space Image by Arek Socha from Pixabay

Satellite Video by Jo Luijten from Pixabay

NASA Media Usage Guidelines