Tag Archives: aboriginal women

My Online Cree Sources – Facebook, YouTube and Websites 2022

I refer to many sources for my website articles. Without these sources, I would be spending enormous amounts of time completing my blogs about Cree. As a semi-fluent speaker, writer, and reader of Woodland Cree, the following sources are invaluable to me.

Facebook pages I follow:

Nêhiyawêwin (Cree) Word/Phrase of the Day – https://www.facebook.com/groups/18414147673/


#CreeSimonSays – https://www.facebook.com/groups/380099328844547/


Cree Language Videos – https://www.facebook.com/groups/100216916980387/


Learn Cree With Me –
https://www.facebook.com/groups/280657821548


Nêhiyawêwin for the Soul –
https://www.facebook.com/N%C3%AAhiyaw%C3%AAwin-for-the-Soul-596183750539244


Cree Language Resources ᓀᐦᐃᔭᐍᐏᐣ – https://www.facebook.com/groups/104500159643897/


Cree Media CBC –
https://www.facebook.com/creemediacbc/

This page can get somewhat political, but it does provide links to Cree language interviews and various other Cree videos.  


Cree word for the day is….
https://www.facebook.com/groups/104433456306236

LLRIB Cree Language Resources – https://www.facebook.com/llribcreelanguage/

Cree Syllabics FORUM –
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1432467493636362/

YouTube Channels:

#CreeSimonSays – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClrHhQZjSL8tDe29lOT7zQA

Cree Literacy Network –
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-nM3vziXSX8RIjnn9D48PQ

Solomon Ratt Query – https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=solomon+ratt

Cree Phrases – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCINEc-0LPsQ5Me2dR-LiW6w

Cathy Wheaton Bird #creebycathy – https://www.youtube.com/user/chimiskwew

BentArrowYEG –
https://www.youtube.com/user/BentArrowEdmonton/videos

Pow wow Times –
https://www.youtube.com/c/PowwowTimes/search?query=cree

BearPaw Media and Education – https://www.youtube.com/c/BearPawLegal

Aaron Fay – https://www.youtube.com/c/AaronFay

HPSD Indigenous Education – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2Srx8T33haoSatKO-nxvcg/videos


Websites I have used:

Learn Cree – http://learncree.ca/

In my workplace, I have been tasked to train with the web developer and provide revisions and updates. I am currently in training, it is a tech that I am not entirely familiar with. I will keep you posted.


Cree Literacy Network – https://creeliteracy.org/

This is an awesome website, it is updated regularly and shared on many relevant Cree language Facebook pages. The promotion of our beautiful language is very well presented and I love our friends from the Cree Literacy Network. Check it out yourself for the video, audio, and text.


itwêwina – A dictionary that understands what you’re looking for. – https://sapir.artsrn.ualberta.ca/cree-dictionary/

I came across this website in 2019 when I was looking for sources. There are many variations of Cree words in the linguistics column search. I use it extensively to this day.


The following websites do not translate or interpret Cree words in any way, however, they can convert SRO to syllabics.

Syllabics.net Welcome –
https://syllabics.net/

Cree SRO ⇔ syllabics converter –
https://syllabics.app/


U of R – Cree: Language of the Plains / nēhiyawēwin: paskwāwi-pīkiskwēwin
https://ourspace.uregina.ca/handle/10294/8401

This Collection has PDFs and audio files that you may download to your computer for personal use.


Online Cree Dictionary – http://www.creedictionary.com/

I have not used this website for a long time. Apparently, the audio is based on an Adobe Flash plugin whichis obsolete. Hopefully, they find the resources to replace all the Flash files and insert simple audio files.


Welcome to the Plains Cree Dictionary! – https://dictionary.plainscree.atlas-ling.ca/#/help

This is an interesting website. Unfortunately, I could not find any audio clips.


Online Dictionary of Moose Cree –
https://moosecree.ca/

This dictionary is in the L dialect. There is audio for select Cree words on the website.


The websites below are from a Google search, maybe you will find them useful in your quest to learn our beautiful language.

Pinterest (Cree Language) –
https://www.pinterest.ca/search/pins/q=cree%20language&rs=typed


Vocabulary in Native American Languages: Cree Words – http://www.native-languages.org/cree_words.htm


U of S Indigenous Languages –
https://teaching.usask.ca/indigenoussk/import/indigenous_languages.php

Cree | CBC Indigenous – Original Voices –
https://www.cbc.ca/originalvoices/language/cree/


Please feel free to share your sources as well, whether it’s a book, Elders, or other online sources.


Regarding SRO to Syllabic converters – I have used them extensively at my workplace and they are real-time savers. Copy and Paste and you are good to go. Please take your time to cross-reference with a chart if you are doing syllabics for a project. I found a glitch here and there (I contacted their support techs). I hope you will find them useful.

Cree language – nīhithawīwin

 

Banner background Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

 

Happy Charles – “our daughter is still missing”

I came across a post by Carson Poitras on Facebook, where he is updating the public that his daughter, Happy Charles, was not found, as was rumoured.

Yes, our daughter is still missing. There was a rumour out there that she was found. This is NOT TRUE. We are still…

Posted by Carson Poitras on Tuesday, November 12, 2019

 

I did not get to know Happy Charles when she was living in La Ronge. I had heard of her from time to time, but I met her only a handful of times.

She seemed pretty normal to me as she chatted with one of my friends, whom I cannot remember, and then she went on her way. I must have been in my early 20s. Happy and I, may be close to the same age, I am 45 tears old right now.

I actually thought they would have located her not long after she went missing. I personally thought she was visiting a remote reserve and staying with friends. I did not think it would become over two years since she went missing.

 

Global News – https://globalnews.ca/tag/happy-charles/

CTV – https://saskatoon.ctvnews.ca/man-seen-in-surveillance-photos-not-a-suspect-in-happy-charles-disappearance-police-1.4671153

CBC – https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/family-happy-charles-calls-provincial-office-families-missing-people-1.5132162

Eaglefeathernews – https://www.eaglefeathernews.com/missing/red-dress-form-a-way-to-fundraise-for-families-of-mmip

 

Nōhkom and my Computer Occupation

My grandmother and her chapan, my daughter Caitlyn

When I started working with the Gift of Language and Culture in 2005, I moved into my maternal grandmother’s house in La Ronge, SK. Her name was Evelyn Venne, ōhōsis was her nickname, meaning little owl in Cree. She was happy to have me live there because I was her favourite grandson (according to me).

She asked me if I was still in school: “kīyāpic cī ī-tāyamihcikīn?” (Are you still going to school?)

I told her no, and that I started working in La Ronge. “tānsi māka īsi ī-ātoskīn?” (What are you working as?)

PC belonging to my daughter (nitānis)

I was anticipating that question way before the conversation, “Web Developer kīsi ātoskiyān,” I said. The look on her face was one of confusion. I did not expect her to understand in anyway and wondered how I could put it in a way she would comprehend. Out of nowhere, she said: “mamahtāwi-āpacihcikan?” (computer).

īhī, (yes) I said, ikotowa kīkway. She looked and smiled her beautiful smile because she knew she caught me off-guard. Lesson learned, just because a person is elderly, does not mean they are not paying attention to the changing world. She knew I was in a computer training program, so I guess she just put two and two together.

She used to enjoy looking at all the pictures I had in my computer and was always amazed at the things it was capable of. I would scan old pictures and she would ask me: “tamahkapihtayin” – make the image larger.

How would one say Web Developer? Kohkominahkīsīs iyāpiy kā osihtāt – one who makes spider web, haha, maybe not. It would likely be a reference to using a computer for work, I think. Something like, mamahtāwi-āpacihcikan katoskātahk – one who works with computers. I believe it would be the general term for maybe IT admin or computer support worker.

Maybe one of the readers of this blog has an idea, I would love to hear it. Any words having to do with computers or maybe mobile devices, would great.

Nōhkom – my grandmother

mamahtāwi-āpacihcikan – computer (astonishing/amazing device)

ōhōsis – little owl

kīsi atoskīyān – is how I work/make a living

īhī – yes

ikotowa kīkway – that kind of thing

tamahkapihtayin” – make the image larger.

Kohkominahkīsīs iyāpiy kā osihtāt – one who makes spider web

mamahtāwi-āpacihcikan kā toskātahk – one who works with computers

Thank you for visiting, I hope to include more about my late grandmother as I go along.

 

I completed a class today: THE PRINCIPLES OF INDIAN LAW

justice-nativeIn one of my classes at Nortep/Norpac, we have been learning about Indigenous Law and it mainly deals with understanding the concepts of Aboriginal law. It’s a vibrant class with much discussion on current events and the impact on Aboriginals and mainstream society.

We were asked to do a case commentary on Metis or Tsilhqot’in cases from 2014. I chose to do Tsilhqot’in Nation v. British Columbia because many of the students had already chosen the Metis decision.

A few weeks earlier, I watched several videos of the case and viewed mainly interviews of First Nations people and how pleased and excited they were over the victory in the Supreme Court of Canada. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4D85H7lQxE

http://warriorpublications.wordpress.com/2014/06/26/tsilhqotin-granted-b-c-title-claim-in-supreme-court-ruling/

The Tsilhqot’in Nation have title on 1750 square KM of land west of Williams Lake. Good stuff.

I learned many important facts in this class pertaining to Aboriginal law. Studying for the final exam gave me much insight on the issues we face as First Nations people and other aboriginal groups. I enjoyed the many subjects in this class and they provide relevance to many of my other classes.

Here is an example of what was expected on our final exam (I do not provide my answers here):

Chapter 5: Crown Obligations

The Honour of the Crown – 3 distinct branches of Crown obligations: Treaty Obligations, Fiduciary Duty and Duty to Consult

Chapter 7: Metis Rights

The Court identified three broad factors: self-identification, ancestral connection to the historic Métis community, and community acceptance.

The difference between Metis Rights and Treaty Rights

Chapter 8: Federalism/Constitutional Issues

The Implications of the Division of Powers on Aboriginal Peoples.

How to amend the constitution

Chapter 9: Aboriginal Women

What are the ways aboriginal women have been discriminated against by the Canadian Government?

Chapter 10: Child Welfare

Contemporary Realities, Best Interest of the Child, Challenges of Aboriginal Control, Customary Child and Family Relations

Chapter 12: Aboriginal People and the Criminal Justice

The Failure of Criminal Law for Aboriginal Peoples, Aboriginal Traditions and Justice, Reforming the Criminal Justice System, Aboriginal Justice Systems, High incarceration rate

All these subjects are very important in our immediate current events of Aboriginal people. I’m glad I decided to go back to classes because I lost sight of many things regarding our struggles as First Nations people.

We need to learn to move on from the past transgressions and thrive as a people once again. Hate and distain from our past wounds only serves to undermine our progress. However, it is important to know what happened to us and what is happening now to assert ourselves and to get on with our lives.

LINKS:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Canadian_Crown_and_Aboriginal_peoples

http://cwrp.ca/provinces-territories/aboriginal

http://www.oci-bec.gc.ca/cnt/rpt/oth-aut/oth-aut20121022info-eng.aspx

http://indigenousfoundations.arts.ubc.ca/home/community-politics/marginalization-of-aboriginal-women.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aboriginal_peoples_in_Canada

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4D85H7lQxE

https://scc-csc.lexum.com/scc-csc/scc-csc/en/item/14246/index.do

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/tsilhqotin-brings-canada-to-the-table/article20521526/

 

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