cree-english correspondences

FAMILY POEMS

The Road to Writer’s Block (A Poem to Myself)

nêhiyawêwin

the Cree language, speaking Cree

kîwê

go home

kîwêtinohk itohtê

go north, northwards (towards the north wind)

wâpikwanîs

flower

naspâci

opposite, contrarily

paskwâwi-mostos

buffalo

âkayâsîmowin

the English language; speaking English

cahcahkiwak

pelicans

môhkahâsiwak

bitterns

misi-môhkahâsiwak

Great Blue herons

asihkwak

mergansers

namôya nipakaski-nêhiyawân.

I do not speak good Cree.

tawâw

come in; you’re welcome; there is room

môniyâskwêw

white woman

ninôhtê-nêhiyawân ayisk ê-kî-pakaskît nohtâwîpan.

I want to speak Cree because my late father,

he spoke Cree brilliantly.

ayîki-sâkahikanihk ohci wiya mâka môya

ê-kî-nêhiyâwit, kî-môniyâwiw.

He was from Frog Lake, but he was not Cree;

he was white.

êkwa mîna ê-âpihtawikosisâniskwêwit nikâwiy.

And my mother is a Métis woman.

cahkipêhikanak

diacritical marks in a syllabary; syllabic symbols

awa iskwêw ê-miyo-otôtêmimisk êkwa

kâ-pakaskît

This woman, the one who is a good friend to you and who speaks Cree brilliantly

kiskinohamâkosi tânisi ka-isi-nêhiyaw-akihcikêyan: pêyak, nîso, nisto . . .

Learn how to count in Cree: one, two, three . . .

wêpina

throw them away

nitohta êkwa

now listen

nâkatohkê

listen attentively

nitohta ôhi nêhiyaw itwêwina, ôhi kâ-katawasisiki nêhiyaw itwêwina.

Listen to these Cree words, these beautiful Cree words.

mâka kakwêyâho! môya kitawipayihikon.

But hurry! You haven’t much time.

Trademark Translation

nit’skwêm ap’sis nêhiyaw.

My woman is a little bit Cree.

paskwâhk - On the Prairie

paskwâw

prairie, plains

paskwâhk

on the prairie (locative case)

mînisîhkês

Seneca root

paskwâwi-mostos

buffalo, bison

(plural: paskwâwi-mostoswak)

paskwâwi-mostosowiyâs

buffalo meat

êha

yes

nôhkom

my grandmother

kinêpik

a snake

paskwâwiyinînâhk

in Plains Cree country

paskwâwiyiniwak

Plains Cree people

ê-paskwâwinîmocik

they speak the Plains Cree language

nahkawêwin

the Ojibwe language

pwâsîmowin

the Assiniboine language

tânitahto aniki paskwâwiyiniwak kâ-nêhiyâwicik kî-nahkawêwak ahpô cî kî-pwâsîmowak?

How many of those Plains Indians, who were Cree, spoke Ojibwe or Assiniboine?

ôma kâ-paskwâk.

It is open country.

tânêhki êkâ kâ-kî-kiskêyimâcik anihi iyiniwa ôki opîtatowêwak?

How did the Europeans not know the Indians?

kâ-kî-kiskêyimâcik

They knew them

kâ-kî-kistêyimâcik

They held them in high regard

kîspin tâpwê kiskêyimitoyahki tâpwê ka-kî-kistêyimitonânaw.

If we truly know each other, we can truly respect each other.

êha, êkwa nôhkomipan mîna ê-kî-nihtâ-mônahicêpihkêt.

Yes, and she was my Grandma, and she was good at pulling Seneca Root.

kiya kâ-pakaski-nîmihitoyan - You Who Dance So Brightly

kiya kâ-pakaski-nîmihitoyan

You who are dancing so brightly

wanitipiskipayin, kotâwîwipîsim

to darken, as in an eclipse

wîpac ka-pêhtâtin ê-cîstâwêyan.

You make an echo soon.

ê-kîhkâyâsowêyan tâpiskôc awa pinâskowi-pîsim ê-kîsikâyâstêk.

You shine brightly just like the Leaf-Falling Moon.

ê-kî-pakaskît nohtâwiy

My father spoke Cree very fluently (lit., brightly).

nêhiyawêwin

the Plains Cree language

kitaspâsowân mwêhci aniki cîpayak kâ-nîmihitocik,

You shine brightly just like those ones, those ghosts who dance [the Northern Lights],

tâpiskôc kâ-mihkwaskâk ispîhk

like the red sky at sunset

kâ-pahkisimok

the sun that retires

osâwinâkwan tâpiskôc ispîhk ê-pê-sâkâstêk.

It is yellow when the sun rises.

askîhtakoskâw wâwîs kâ-pipohk.

The forest is green, especially in winter.

kisê-manitow

the Great Spirit

pakaski-kihci-kîsikohk ispîhk ê-yôhtêpitamâsk kihci-kîsikowi-yôhtênawêwina kisê-manitow.

Heaven is brilliant when the Great Spirit opens the gates for you.

osâm ê-cîpayâmatisoyân ispîhk kiya ê-cîpayikawiyan kâ-pakaski-nîmihitoyan mâka kipêhtâtin ê-cîstâwêyan êkwa ê-pakaskîhtâkosiyan.

because I am visited by ghosts when you are a ghost who is dancing so brightly, I can hear you, you are echoing and you are fluent.

tawâw - There Is Room, Always Room for One More

tawâw

come in; you’re welcome; there is room

kikî-wâpahtên ê-misi-tawâk êkwa ita ka-wîkihk.

You saw that there was lots of space and lots of room for living.

ê-kî-tawatahamêk.

The two of you blazed a trail.

kiya êkwa nikâwînân ê-kî-tawinamawiyâhk.

You and Mom, the two of you cleared a space by hand for us.

ayiwâk nawac kikî-tawinikân.

You made more space.

ôma nêhiyawêwin

this Cree language

êkwa ôma nêhiyaw-isîhcikêwin

and this Cree culture

ê-kî-otamihoyân êkosi môya kikî-pêhtâtin osâm môya ê-kî-nitohtâtân.

I was too busy, and I wasn’t hearing you because I wasn’t listening to you.

anohc êkwa pitanê ka-kî-wâpahtamân mîna ka-kî-pêhtamân ayiwâk kîkway

Now I wish I could have seen and heard more

nimihtâtên êkâ ê-kî-nâkatôhkêyân pîtos kâ-kî-isi-waskawîyan.

I wish I could have been more open to our special way of living.

tâwâyihk

between the places, in the place between

pitanê ayiwâk ka-kî-tawinamâtân.

I wish that I could have made more room.

Perfect Not Perfect

ahpô êtikwê ka-kî-sôhki-kotêyihtamân ka-nitohtâtân.

Perhaps I could have tried harder to listen to you.

ê-wîtisânîhitoyahk ôma kiyânaw.

We are a family

kiyawâw kâ-wâhkômiyêk

All of you, you are the ones who are my relations

nika-kakwê-tapahtêyimison.

I will try harder to be humble.

nika-kakwê-wânaskân.

I will try harder to be at peace.

tawastêw - The passage is safe

tawastêw

There is a safe passage

tawâw

come in; you’re welcome; there is room

Céad míle fáilte

Gaelic for “One Hundred Thousand Welcomes”

nêhiyawêwin

the Cree language

ê-têhtapahipêyâhk

We are floating

nipîhk kâ-âstêkamik.

on this water, the water that is still and calm.

ê-kiskêyimâyâhk kisê-manitow

We know that the Creator [the Great Spirit]

kîsikohk ê-tawinamâsk.

makes room for you in heaven.

kisâpohtawêhtân.

You walk through the opening.

tawâw ôta. maht êsa pîhtokwê. ôta ka-kî-aywêpin.

There is room here. Please come in. Here you can rest.

pahkwêsikan - bread

pahkwêsikan

bannock, bread, flour

ê-kî-mâh-mâwaci-miyo-pahkwêsikanihkêt

She made really good bread

pahkisimotâhk isi

the best in the west

mihkwâkamîwi-sipîhk ohci.

of Red River.

namôya nikiskêyihtên ê-kî-nêhiyawêt

I don’t know if Grandma spoke Cree

nôhkom, mâka ê-nisitawêyihtamân

but I do know

ê-kî-mâh-mâwaci-miyo-pahkwêsikanihkêt

she made really good bread

pahkisimotâhk isi

the best in the west

mihkwâkamîwi-sipîhk ohci.

of Red River.

nôhkom

my Grandmother

âkayâsiwak, môya ôki

The British, not those

âkayâsîmowak, ôki

ones who speak English, those

kâ-pîkiskwêcik anima kotak

ones who speak that other

pîkiskwêwin, ôki

language, those

ê-kî-pêsiwâcik pahkwêsikana

ones who brought bannock

ôtê êkotê ohci.

from over there to here.

pimîhkân

pemmican

ôtê ê-ohcîmakahk pimîhkân

pemmican from over here

êkotê ê-ohcît pahkwêsikan

bread from over there

pahkwênêw

she/he breaks a piece of something (e.g., bread) by hand

ê-kî-îwahikanihkêyân

I have pounded meat

ê-kî-sîkinamân kisâkamicêwâpôs ohpihkasikanihk

I have poured warm water over yeast

ê-kî-kiskinohamâkosiyân ka-wîtisânîhitoyâhk

I have learned that to be a family

kiyâm ôtê ka-ohcîyâhk

It is okay to be from here

êkwa kiyâm pêskis êkotê ka-ohcîyâhk.

and it is okay to be from over there.

ê-wîtisânîhitoyâhk asici pîkiskwêwin - Language Family

ê-wîtisânîhitoyâhk asici pîkiskwêwin.

We are related to each other and with the language.

ê-nêhiyawi-kiskinohamâkosiyân.

I am learning to speak Cree.

sôniyâw

money

môniyâw

a white person

kôhkomipaninawak

cucumbers

ohkom

grandmother

nôhkom

my grandmother

kôhkom

your grandmother

kôhkominaw

our grandmother

nêhiyawêwin

the Cree language

kôhkomipaninawak

our late grandmothers

nitôtêm

my friend

nôtokwêw

She is an old woman

kihc-ôkimânâhk

the government

nôhkom mistahi kî-miyohtwâw ê-kî-âpihtawikosisâniskwêwit êkwa mistahi nikî-sâkihaw.

My grandmother was a very kind Métis woman, and I loved her very much.

nêhiyawak

the Cree People

nôhkom mistahi kisâkihitin.

My Grandmother, I love you very much.

ohtâwîmâw

father

kohtâwiy

your father

nohtâwiy

my father

nohtâwiy namôya nêhiyaw mâka mistahi pakaski-nêhiyawêw.

My father is not a Cree person, but he speaks Cree brilliantly.

nohtâwiy mistahi miyohtwâw môniyâw.

My father is a very kind white man.

nohtâwiy mistahi kisâkihitin.

My Father, I love you very much.

okâwîmâw

mother

kikâwiy

your mother

nikâwiy

my mother

nikâwiy namôya nêhiyawêw mâka mistahi ê-pakaski-pîkiskwêt sâkihiwêwin.

My mother does not speak Cree, but she speaks love very well.

nikâwiy mistahi miyohtwâw ê-âpihtawikosisâniskwêwit.

My mother is a very kind Métis woman.

nikâwiy mistahi kisâkihitin

My Mother, I love you very much

nasakay wâpiskisiw

My skin is white.

nimihkom mihkwâw

My blood is red.

mihkwâw

It is red.

êkwa kâ-nîmihitocik mistahi katawasisiwak.

And when the ancestral spirits dance, the Northern Lights are very beautiful.

ê-wîtisânîhitoyâhk êkwa ê-pêyâhtakowêyâhk - Relative Clause

ê-wîtisânîhitoyâhk êkwa ê-pêyâhtakowêyâhk

We are relatives and we are careful with our words

nisîm

my younger sibling (a younger brother or sister)

nisîmê

my younger sibling

(vocative case)

tânisi anima ê-isi-tôtaman, nisîmê?

How do you do it, my sister?

tânisi anima ê-isi-kikiskâ-mâmitonêyihtaman?

How do you think so fast?

naniwêyitwê, nisîmê, anima âcimowin

Tell a joke, my sister, that story

kâ-mâci-pâhpiyâhk mâna ahpô piko

that makes us laugh no matter

tahtwâw kâ-âcimoyan.

how many times you tell it.

nisîmê

my brother

nimiywêyihtênân

We like

ka-pêhtâtâhk kâ-kêyakâhpisiyan

to hear you giggle

nisîmê, anima kêyakâhpisiwin

my brother, that giggle

kâ-ohci-pâhpiyâhk.

the one that makes us all giggle.

kiyâm nisîmê, pâhpi

It’s okay my brother, giggle

anima kêyakâhpisiwin

that little giggle

tâpiskôc ana awâsis

just like that child

kâ-kêyakâhpisit

the one who giggles

mâto anima mâtowin

cry that cry

tâpiskôc nâpêw kâ-isi-mâtot.

just like that grown man’s cry.

nisîmê

my younger sister

manâcihik kitawâsimisak

protect your children

ôma pwâwatêwin ohci.

from this heavy burden.

pâhpi nisîmê, miyawâsik

laugh my sister, celebrate

kitawâsimisak

your children

aniki awâsisak

these children

kâ-sâkihacik

these ones you love

miyawâsik, asici pâhpiwin

celebrate them with laughter

sâkihik kitawâsimisak, nisîmê

love your children, my sister

nikâ

mother! (vocative case)

pâhpihik, nikâ, pâhpihik

laugh, my mother, laugh

têpwê-pâhpihik.

laugh in their faces.

ê-kî-nakatikoyahk êkwa

He has left us now

nikâ, mâka kiskisitota

my mother, but remember

opâhpiwin, anima pâhpiwin

his laugh, that laugh

kâ-kî-nahêyihtamihikoyahk.

he made us all feel better.

kahkiyaw niwâhkômâkanak, kiyawâw

all my relatives, all of you

kâ-wîkimâyêkok nîtisânak

the ones who married my siblings

nitânisak êkwa nistimwak, nitihkwatimak êkwa nikosisak

my brother’s daughters and my sister’s daughters, my brother’s son and my sister’s sons

nikâwîsak êkwa nôhcâwîsak

my aunties and my uncles

niciwâmiskwêmak, nitawêmâwak, nicâhkosak êkwa nikêhtê-ayimak

my mother’s sister’s daughters, my mother’s sister’s son, my father’s brother’s son, my father’s brother’s daughters, and my grandparents

aniki nistam kâ-kî-pê-takosihkik

the ones who came before

aniki mwêstas kê-takosihkik

the ones who will come after

kiyâmapi, êkwa.

Shhhh, now.

miyohtâkwan

it sounds pleasant

anima cîstâwêwin

that echo

êwako êkâ kâ-pônihtâkwahk.

it won’t stop sounding.

RECLAMATION POEMS

Cree Lessons

nêhiyawêwin

the Cree language

têhtapiwin

chair

tohtôsâpoy

milk

nâpêw âpacihcikan

the man’s tool

nâpêw isîhcikâsowin

the man’s private parts

nimîcisonân

we eat

nimêtawânân

we play

ê-nikamoyâhk

we are singing

ê-nîmihitoyâhk

we are dancing

ê-pâhpiyâhk

we are laughing

môniyâw

a White man

nêhiyawiskwêw

a Cree woman

nâpêw

man

owîkimâkana

the man’s wife

nêhiyawê

speak Cree

mistahi

a lot, very much

nihtâ-nêhiyawêw

she/he speaks Cree very well

nâs

to go and get someone

sâminâs

to touch something very softly

ê-pâhpiyâhk êkwa ê-kiskinohamâkosiyâhk

we are laughing and we are learning

tânisi ka-isi-nihtâ-âhpinihkêyan - How to Tan a Hide

tânisi ka-isi-nihtâ-âhpinihkêyan

how to tan a hide

kiskisitota ôma kâ-itihtâkwahk.

Remember that sound.

mihkihkwan

hide scraper

kiskisi nîkân ka-mihkitaman itê kâ-wiyâsiwik.

Remember to scrape the meat off first.

wâpam tânisi ê-itâpacihtât ôma mâtahikan.

Watch how she uses that hide scraper, the one that scrapes the fur off.

nitohta.

Listen.

nâkatohkê êkwa kika-pêhtên

Listen carefully and you will hear

tânisi pîtos mâtahikan

how the fur scraper does not

ê-itihtâkwahk ispîhci mihkihkwan.

sound the same as the flesh scraper.

kôhkom

your grandmother

nîtohta mîna kîsta.

You will also hear.

kiskisitota ôma kâ-itihtâkwahk.

Remember that sound.

kiskisi

Remember

wiyîtihpa ôhi ê-âpacihtâhk ka-yôskinamihk askêkin.

how she uses these brains to soften the hide.

wîtapim kôhkom.

Stay with your grandmother.

wîcih ka-mâtahikêt.

Help her to work that hide.

kaskâpasikê.

Keep up that fire.

nâkatohkê.

Listen carefully.

kiskisi wiyîtihpa anihi ê-âpacihtâhk ka-yôskinamihk askêkin.

Remember, the brains soften the hide.

kiskisi

Remember

êkosi kika-nakacihtân.

so that you will know.

aniki nîso nâpêwak kâ-pîkiskwêcik - Two Men Talking

aniki nîso nâpêwak kâ-pîkiskwêcik

these two men, the ones who speak together

nipêhtên ê-takahkihtâkwahk

I can hear the pleasing sounds of

pêyâhtakêyimowin.

peace.

kisiskâciwani-sîpiy

North Saskatchewan River

kisiskâciwan mâka ê-cîwêk êkwa ê-pêhtamân

It flows swiftly but peacefully and I am hearing

ê-takahkihtâkwahk

the pleasing sounds of

pêyâhtakêyimowin.

peace.

kîyawâw kipîkiskwâtitonâwâw

You talk to each other

mâka ê-manâcimitoyêk

and you are careful with each other

êkwa kinisitohtâtonâwâw.

and you listen to each other.

kiyawâw nîso nâpêwak

these two men

kâ-pîkiskwêyêk

the ones who speak together

nîso pîwâkonisak

two snowflakes that float

ê-nôhtê-âhkami-pîkiskwâtitoyêk

you want to speak Cree with each other

môy ê-nitawêyihtamêk

you do not want

ka-kipihtowêyêk.

to stop talking.

nôhtâwiy opîkiskwêwin - Father Tongue

nôhtâwiy opîkiskwêwin

My father, his language

-ikawi

(suffix)

nêhiyawêwin itwêwina

Cree words

pahkwêsikan, maskihkîwâpoy

bread, tea (lit., medicine water)

êkwa nipiy

and water

mistik, osimisk, êkwa nîpiy

tree, bud, and leaf

pipon, miyoskamin

winter, spring

nîpin, êkwa takwâkin

summer and fall

mispon êkwa kimiwan

snow and rain

wâsêskwan êkwa yôtin

sun and wind

wîhki-pahkwêsikanis

cookie

kihci-okiniy, êkwa

tomato and

âpakosîsi-mîciwin

cheese (lit., mouse food)

sâkahikan, asinîwaciy

lake, mountain

paskwâw

prairie

papâ-mîcisowin êkwa kapêsiwin

picnic and camping

kâkikê ê-kî-môsâhkinamâhk

We always picked bottles

môtêyâpiskwa ispî

bottles when

kâ-kî-papâ-mîcisoyâhk

we went picnicking

ahpô ê-nitawi-kapêsiyâhk.

or camping.

sîpihkonâkwan mêkwâc kîsik

The sky is blue now

mâka kinwês ê-kî-pihkonâkwahk.

but for a long time it has been grey.

sêhkêpayîs êkwa cîmân

car and canoe

napakitâpânâsk êkwa tihkinâkan

toboggan and cradleboard

oskawâsis, nâpêsis, iskwêsis, nâpêw, êkwa iskwêw

baby, boy, girl, man, and woman

nîcimos êkwa nîcimos

my boyfriend and my girlfriend (my sweetheart)

nikâwiy êkwa nôhtâwiy

my mother and my father

nôhkom êkwa nimosôm

my grandmother and my grandfather

nîcisânak, nimis êkwa nistês

my sister and my brother

nikâwîs êkwa nohcâwîs

my auntie (my mother’s sister) and my uncle (my dad’s brother)

“nitânis” êkwa “nikosis”

“my girl” and “my boy”

nôcokwêsis êkwa kisêyinîs

old woman and old man

ê-maskawâk êkwa ê-yôskâk.

It is hard and it is soft.

ê-sôhkihtâkwahk êkwa

It is loud and

ê-kâmwâtahk.

it is quiet.

ê-maskawahcâk

The ground is hard

ê-sôhkihtâkwahk kipihtowêwin

The silence is loud

ê-miyotâmoyan êkwa ê-kâmwâtahk.

Your voice is melodious and peaceful.

kâkikê ê-kî-manâcimiyâhk

You always spoke carefully

tâpiskôc kimiwan

just like rain

ê-pahkipêstâk

The raindrops are falling gently when

itê ê-pâhkwahcâk.

the ground is dried out.

kiyâwihtâkosin êkwa anohc.

You sound far away now.

ê-nitohtawiyan êkwa ê-âhkamêyihtamohiyan.

You listen and you persevere.

ê-kî-sâkihiyâhk êkwa

You and Mom loved us and

kiya êkwa nikâwînân

you and our mother

ê-kî-nihtâwôsêyêk.

raised up a good family.

ê-kî-miyo-pimâtisiyan, mâka

You lived a good life, but

ispîhk ê-kî-kisipipayiyan

then you went on ahead

êkwa kikî-âstêsinin kitaywêpiwinihk.

and you lay down to your rest in your resting place

ê-kî-kisêwâtisiyan

You were kind

êkwa ê-kî-kwayaskwâtisiyan

and you were honest and just

ê-kî-tapahtêyimisoyan

You were humble

êkwa ê-kî-pêyâhtakowêyan

You were soft-spoken

ê-kî-yôskâtisiyan

You had a gentle heart

ê-kî-yôskitêhêstawacik

You had a soft spot in your heart

kahkiyaw nêhiyawak.

for all Cree people.

ê-kî-sawêyimacik êkwa ê-kî-nâkatêyimacik.

You were generous and you cared for us.

ê-kî-kâh-kakihcihiwêyan

You were thoughtful

ê-kî-miyo-tôtaman

You did a good thing

tahtwâw ê-kî-nêhiyawêyan.

each time you spoke Cree.

ê-kî-nahîyan mistahi kîkway.

You were so good at so many things.

nipîkiskâtisin êkwa kikîsinâtêyihtamâtin

I am sad and I am regretful

osâm kitâhkosiwin

because sickness

kipîkiskwêwin ê-kimotamâkoyan

took away your talk

êkwa ê-kî-mwêstasisiniyân

and I came too late

ka-nitohtâtân.

to listen.

mâka êkwa anohc âta ê-kîmwêyan

But now you’re whispering

kina-nahihtâtin.

and I’m listening.

ninitâhtâmon kititwêwiniwâwa - I Borrow Your Words

ninitâhtâmon kititwêwiniwâwa

I borrow your words

môya ninôhtê-wanitôtên ispîhk nêhiyawascikêyâni

I mean no wrong in writing

ahpô nêhiyawêyâni. ninitawêyihtên

or speaking your language. I mean

ka-nisitohtâtakok kinêhiyawîhtwâwiniwâwa

to understand you on your own terms

kipîkiskwêwiniwâwa.

in your words.

tahto itwêwin ê-miyonâkwahk

Each word intricately embroidered

tâpiskôc anima kâ-yîkopîwik niwâsênamânihk

like the frost on my window this cold

anohc kâ-kîkisêpâyâk kîwêtinohk. tahto cahkasinahikan

northern morning. Each inflection

tâpiskôc mîkwan isinâkwan wâsênamânihk

a feathered essence on the glass

tâpiskôc piyêsîs ê-nikamot itihtâkwan tahto itwêwin

Each word a songbird as soon

mayaw kâ-kitoyêk. tânisi mâka

As I speak it. How

ka-kî-kaskihtâyân ka-otinamâsoyân

could I possibly steal

kikitohcikêwiniwâw?

your music?

kitasotamâtitinâwâw

I give you my word

môya niwî-otinamâson.

I won’t take what’s not mine.

ôki mîkwanak wâsênamânihk ê-ayâcik

Those feathers on my window

kititwêwiniwâwa.

your words.

nika-nitohtên kikitohcikêwiniwâw itwêwina

I will listen for your music

tâpiskôc piyêsîsak kâ-takahkihtâkosicik, ê-ohpahocik

winged words of warblers, swooping

ê-nikamocik, onikamowiniwâwa ê-itwêmakaniyiki

mightily in song, metres

ê-kistêyihtâkosicik, ê-miyohtâkwaniyiki kâ-kîkisêpâyâyik.

of meaning, melodies of the morning.

kâwi kimiyitinâwâw kititwêwiniwâwa

I return your words,

kinanâskomitinâwâw ê-awihiyêk.

thanking your for loaning them to me.

ay-hay, nitôtêmitik nêhiyawak, kahkiyaw nitôtêmitik

Thank you, my Cree friends, all my friends

kîhtwâm ka-pîkiskwâtitonaw.

may we speak again.

aniki nîso nâpêwak kâ-masinahikêcik - Two Men Writing

aniki nîso nâpêwak kâ-masinahikêcik

these two men, the ones who write

ê-kî-kiskêyihtamêk cî

Did you know

môy anima ê-nihtâ-nêhiyawêyêk

to understand Cree

nêhiyawasinahikêyêko?

is not merely to write in Cree?

nitohtamok

Listen

kakwê-nisitohtamok

Try to understand

sâpohtawân - Ghost Dance

sâpohtawân

Ghost Dance

kimosômipaninawak, kôhkomipaninawak êkwa kahkiyaw kicâpâninawak

The grandfathers, the grandmothers, and all the ancestors

êkota kika-wîci-nîmihitômânawak.

There we will dance with the ancestors.

ê-nikamocik sâpohtawân nikamowin.

They sing the Ghost Dance song.

awa môhcohkân

this clown, trickster

oskâpêwis

helper

pimîhkân

pemmican

êkwa kahkiyaw ê-pâhpihâyâhk

and everyone laughs

awa ê-wawiyatêyihtâkosit nâpêw

at this funny man

“êkâ êkosi itapi, kitôhkapin anima” ê-isit.

“Don’t sit like that,” he says to me.

êkospîhk ê-kî-kiskinohamâkosiyân

I have since learned

ka-isi-kwayaskapiyân.

to sit properly.

ayiwâk ninîmihitonân.

We dance some more.

kâh-kitow ayiwâk awa môhcohkân.

That clown calls out some more.

ayiwâk nimîcisonân.

We eat more food.

ê-nikamot ayiwâk awa nâpêw.

The man sings some more.

kâ-miyotâmot tâpiskôc

He has a sweet voice just like

misâskwatôminâpoy ê-sîwâk.

saskatoon syrup.

sâpohtêwak.

They pass right through.

ê-kî-sâpohtawêhtêt.

He passed right through the opening.

êkwa aniki kâ-nîmihitocik

And those ghosts who are dancing

kâ-wîci-nîmihitômâyâhkik

the ones we dance with

mistahi katawasisiwak.

they are very beautiful.

ê-kî-pîcicîyâhk - We Danced Round Dance

ê-kî-pîcicîyâhk

We danced round and round

kâh-kîhtwâm

again and again

tâpiskôc pîsim kâ-isi-waskawît

just as the sun moves round and round

kâh-kîhtwâm

again and again

ê-takahkwêwêtitâcik

They make a pleasing sound with the drums

êkwa ê-mâ-matwêwêhwâcik.

and they pound the drums so others can hear them from far away.

A FEW IDEAS FROM amiskwacî-wâskahikanihk

The Young Linguist

tânisi

Hello

tânisi kiya?

Hello, how are you?

tânisi ka-isi-nihtâ-pimîhkêyan - How to Make Pemmican

tânisi ka-isi-nihtâ>-pimîhkêyan

how to make pemican

paskwâwi-mostosowiyâs

buffalo meat

Namoya Ayiman

It’s not difficult (the title of Anne Anderson’s book Let’s Learn Cree: Namoya Ayiman)

nîpawiwin

the standing place

êkosi

so then

akwâwân

meat-drying rack

kayâs

a long time ago

kâh-kinwês

quite a long time

HISTORY POEMS

maskihkiy maskwa iskwêw ôma wiya ohci - For Medicine Bear Woman

maskihkiy maskwa iskwêw ôma wiya ohci

for Medicine Bear Woman

ayîki-pîsim

April

kikî-pîkiskwâsin anima êkospîhk.

You spoke to me that day.

kikî-nanâskominân ê-kî-pê-nitohtâtâhk.

You thanked me and the others for listening.

nistam anima êkospîhk kâ-kî-pêhtamân kititwêwina ê-pîkiskwêyan.

That day, I first heard your words as you spoke them.

pîkiskwê, nitôtêm, pîkiskwê. kititwêwina kinanâtawihikon.

Speak, my friend, speak. Your words are your medicine.

awiyak kikî-kakwêcimik kîkwây ê-kiskinohamâkosiyan kwayask wiyasiwêwin ohci.

Someone asked you what you have learned about justice.

ômisi kikî-itwân “namôya kwayask wiyasiwêwin ihtakon.

You said, “There is no justice.

kiyânaw ôma piko êkwa kotakak wiyawâw kahkiyaw.”

There’s just us and all the rest.”

wîhtamawin, ê-nôhtê-nisitohtâtân.

Tell me, I want to understand you.

ninôhtê-nisitawinawâwak aniki kâ-kwayaskwâtisicik.

I want to know about the just ones.

tâpiskôc ana owiyasiwêw kâ-kî-miyisk sôhkihtâkosiwin.

Like that judge who gave you the power of speech.

kikî-wâpamitin êkwa kikî-nânâhkasîhtâtin.

I saw you on the outside.

kikî-nitohtâtin êkwa kikî-nânâhkasîhtâtin.

I listened to you on the outside.

kikî-pîkiskwâsin isi kâ-kî-nânâhkasîhtâtân.

You talked to me on the outside.

ômisi kikî-itwân: “namôya ôma ê-mac-âyiwiyân.

You said, “I’m not a bad person inside.

namôya macikwanâs osîhtâw kisê-manitow.”

The Creator doesn’t make junk.”

awiyak kikî-kakwêcimik tânisi êkwa ê-isi-nâkatawêyihtaman kikisiwâsiwin.

Someone asked you what you do with your anger now.

ômisi kikî-itwân: “nitâ-ay-âsîhtân kîspin kaskihtâyâni”

You said you make statements whenever you can.

ispîhk kâ-mâmiskôtaman anima tâpasinahikêwin kâ-kî-osîhtâyan

When you spoke of what you made in art class

awîna êtikwê ana kâ-kî-mâyitôtâsk nikî-ay-itêyihtên.

I wondered who did bad things to you.

matwân cî anima êwak ohci kâ-kî-mâyinikêyan.

I wondered if that’s why you did that bad thing.

kikî-kakwêcimitin tânisi ê-isi-miyikoyan maskawisîwin pîkiskwêwina êkwa itwêwina.

I asked you how speech and words give you power.

kikî-itwân, “pîkiskwêwina êkwa itwêwina maskawisîmakanwa mâka namôya maskwa-wisîmakanwa kîspin nam awiyak nitohtâhki.”

You said, “Words and speech are power, but they’re not power if there ain’t no one listening.”

matwân cî kikî-môsihtân nimaskawisîwinân kahkiyaw niyanân êkota kâ-nitohtâtâhk.

I wondered if you felt the power of all of us listening to you.

anohc êkwa nitayamihtân anihi kipîkiskwêwina kâ-kî-masinahaman.

Now I read your words as you wrote them.

kitâniskotâpân, mistahi-maskwa, ômisi kî-itwêw, “itwêwina maskawisîmakanwa.”

Your great-grandfather, Big Bear, said, “Words are power.”

kititwân kiya, “kîspin nam awiyak êkâ pîkiskwêci anihi itwêwina ka-kî-pîkiskwêhk, êwako kâmwâtisiwin kika-nisiwanâcihikon.”

You say, “If no one ever speaks the words that should be spoken, the silence destroys you.”

kinitohtâtin kâ-kî-isi-nânâhkasîhtâtân.

I listen to you on the outside.

ka-kî-pêhtawin cî kâ-kî-isi-nânâhkasîhtâtân?

Can you hear me listening?

pîkiskwê, nitôtêm. kitâpwêwin anima kiwîcihikowisiwin.

Speak, my friend. Your truth is your power.

kiwîcihikowisiwin ninôhtê-pêhtên.

I want to hear your power.

pîkiskwê, maskihkiy maskwa iskwêw.

Speak, Medicine Bear Woman.

Take This Rope and This Poem (a letter for big bear)

mistahi-maskwa

Big Bear

nimihtâtên ê-kî-kakwê-pîkiskwêstamâwak.

I regret trying to speak for him.

anohc nitapahtêyimison êkâ ê-nihtâ-nêhiyawêyân.

Now I am humbled because I do not speak Cree competently.

ayis mwêstas tahto-askiy kêyâpic

Because after all these years,

namôya ê-kaskihtâyân

still I am not capable

pîsâkanâpiy

a rawhide rope

paskwâwi-mostoswak

buffalo

maskêkwâpoy

muskeg tea (Labrador tea)

pîsâkanâpiy mêskanaw

Rawhide Rope Road

âniskohpicikan pîsâkanâpihk

a rope with a knot in it

namôya tâpiskôc âniskôhôcikan ôma kâ-tâpisahoht

not at all like a bead that has been threaded onto a string

mwâc ahpô tâpiskôc anihi pîwâpiskwêyâpiya

not at all like those chains

kâ-kî-âpacihtâhk ka-sakahpitiht ana kisêyiniw

used to hold him

asinîwaciy kipahotowikamikohk.

at Stony Mountain Penitentiary.

cêskwa!

Wait!

nakî!

Stop!

ê-tapahtiskwêkâpawiyân

I stand humble, my head bowed

osâm nikî-âpahên âniskohpicikan nahiyikohk

because I will loosen the knot just enough

ka-nisitohtamân ê-kî-nôhtê-pîkiskwâtât ostêsimâwa

to say I understand that he wanted to talk to his brothers

anihi kâ-wâpiskisiyit ostêsimâwa

those older white brothers who wrote the treaty

kâ-kî-masinahamiyit ostêsimâwasinahikan

these ones who signed the treaty

ninôhtê-paskisên pîsâkanâpiy

I want to cut the rope

êkwa ê-nôhtê-wîci-pîkiskwêmimak otayisiyinîma

I want to speak with his people

namôya kîkway ayiwâk.

Nothing more.

ay hay.

Thank you.

kiya kâ-wîcihat mistahi-maskwa.

The one who helps Big Bear.

sôhkikâpawi, nitôtêm - Stand Strong, My Friend

sôhkikâpawi, nitôtêm

Stand strong, my friend

nîpawi kitâpwêwinihk

Stand there in your own truth

kwayaskokâpawi tâpiskôc ana wâkinâkan.

Stand straight just like that tamarack tree.

wîci-kâpawîstâtok anohc tâpiskôc aniki wâkinâkanak.

Stand with others now, just like those tamarack trees.

sôhkikâpawi êkospîhk nimiyo-tôtêm.

Stand strong at those times, my friend.

pêyakokâpawi kîspin êkosi ispayiki, mâka wîci-kâpawîstawik mîna kotakak.

Stand on your own if necessary, but also stand with others too.

ômisi isikâpawi tâpiskôc kâ-isi-sâkâkonêkâpawit apiscâpakwanîs.

Stand this way, like the little crocus that stands up sticking out of the snow.

kinokâpawi ayisk kisôhkisin.

Stand tall because you are strong.

nêhiyaw cistêmâw

Cree tobacco

natohta tâpwêwin nitôtêm.

Listen for the truth, my friend.

kiyâmikâpawi êkwa cîhkîsta ôhi asotamâkêwina.

Stand quietly and enjoy these promises.

sôhkikâpawi nimiyo-tôtêm, Ellen.

Stand strong my good friend, Ellen.

cîpacikâpawi anita kitâpwêwinihk.

Stand very straight, there in your own truth.

kâh-kîhtwâm - Again and Again

kâh-kîhtwâm

again and again

kinisitohtên cî?

Do you understand?

môya

No

môya nikî-kaskihtân ka-tâpowêyân osâm

No, I could not repeat him because

môya ê-kî-pâh-pêhtamân osâm

I hadn’t heard him repeatedly because

môya tâpwe ê-kî-nâ-nitohtawak.

I did not listen enough.

ka-nisitohtamân nêhiyawêwin

To understand Cree

ka-kî-nâh-nêhiyawi-nitohtamân

I must listen to Cree

kâh-kîhtwâm.

again and again.

ka-nisitohtamân nêhiyawêwin

To understand Cree

ka-kî-nâh-nêhiyawi-nitohtamân

you must listen to Cree

kâh-kîhtwâm.

again and again.

niski-pîsim

March (Goose Month)

ayîki-pîsim

April (Frog Month)

ayîkisak

frogs

aniki ayîkisak kâ-nikamocik

those frogs who sing

kâ-nâ-nikamocik.

and sing again and again.

ê-pâh-pahkahokoyahk kâh-kîhtwâm

As our hearts beat over and over

ê-yâ-yêhyêyahk kâh-kîhtwâm.

As we breathe in and out again and again.

ê-mâ-minihkwêyahk nipiy kâh-kîhtwâm

As we drink water again and again

ê-pâ-pimiciwahk kisiskâciwani-sîpiy kâkikê.

The North Saskatchewan River flows along repeatedly.

êkosi ê-mâ-manâcihât otoskawâsisa

The way a mother bear protects her children

aniki tâpiskôc maskosisak

Just as those young bears

kâ-mâ-mêcawêsiyit kâh-kîhtwâm.

play their games again and again.

wâh-pâ-pê-kîwêcik

When they return

câhcahkêwin aniwâhk

a freckle on a cheek

tâpiskan ôma kâ-wâ-wâkamok

this jaw that curves

ê-isi-pâh-pâhpisit, ahpô ê-kâ-kinwâk

he smiles in this way, or it is long

êkwa ê-sâsôhkahk ôma oskan

and this bone is strong

wâh-pâ-pê-isinâkosit ohci wîtisânîhitowin

when the next generation appears to be near

âniskotâpân ahpô kihc-âniskotâpân

or the next one after that

êwako ani

and so after that

wâwîs cî

especially when

wâh-mâ-mêcawêcik âniskotâpânak

the children play

êwako anihi mêcawêwina, wâh-pâ-pîkiskwêyit

those same games, when they say

êwako anihi itwêwina

those same words

wâh-nâ-nikamoyit êwako anihi nikamowina

when they sing those same songs

wâh-ây-âcimostawâcik omosômimâwak

when the grandfathers tell a story

ocâpânimiwâwa kotak âcimowin

yet another story to their great grandchildren

ka-nêhiyawi-nisitohtamihk

To understand Cree

ka-kî-nâ-nitohtamihk nêhiyawêwin

they must listen to Cree

kâh-kîhtwâm.

again and again.

nikî-pê-pimiskân - I Came This Way by Canoe

nikî-pê-pimiskân

I came by canoe

kayâs-âyiwan anima mêskanâs ê-kî-pisci-miskamân, kâ-kî-âpacihtâcik nitâniskêwiyiniwak

I stumbled upon that ancient trail, the one my ancestors travelled

nikî-pêtâpoyon

I came this way

êkota kotak sîpîhk

There on another river

wînipêk sîpîhk

the Winnipeg River

nitihtimaninâna, nispiskwaninâna, nitaskatayinâna

Our shoulders, our backs, our abdominal muscles

ê-maskawisîwiyiniwiyâhk.

We are our muscles.

nitâhkami-mâ-miyo-pimâtisinân.

We persist in living a good life.

êkota ê-kî-nîpawiyân

There I stood.

ê-kîmohtawakik nitâniskêwiyiniwak.

I am eavesdropping on my ancestors.

anohc êkwa nipêhtên ê-matwê-pimohtêcik, ê-paswêwêki, kayâs nâway ohci.

Now I hear distant sounds, I am close enough to hear, they are echoes and they sound beautiful.

ê-na-nîpawiyân ôta: ê-âpasâpahtamân, ê-âsôsimoyân.

Here I stand: I am looking, leaning back.

niyêhyân

I breathe

nipimâtisin

I live

ê-nôhtê-kiskêyihtamân awîna niya

I want to know who I am

ê-nanâtawâpamakik awînipanak wiyawâw.

I search for who they were.

Like a Bead on a String

tâpiskôc otisiyêyâpiy pîsimwêyâpiy

just like the umbilical cord, the rainbow

ê-itâpêkamohtât askîhk kîsikohk ohci

connect the earth and sky

ê-âkwaskitinitocik awâsis êkwa okâwîmâw.

Mother and child embrace each other.

tâpiskôc pîsâkanâpiy pîkiskwêyâpîsa

Just like a rawhide rope, the vocal cords

ê-tipahpitahk miyikowisiwin âcimowin êkwa nikamowin

secure the gift of story and song

ê-âkwaskitinitocik mosôm êkwa ôsisima.

The grandfather and his grandchild embrace each other.

tâpiskôc kâ-tâpisahoht mîkis, nitâniskotâpân

Like a bead on a string, my great grandmother

apîstawêw owâhkômâkana nahiyikohk

sits near to her relatives long enough

kici-têpinamwak ocihciya

so that I can reach for her hands

ihkatawâw ay-itwêhiwêw - The Marsh Sends a Message

âniskowaskwa

the reeds

kinosêw

fish

sâkahikan, manitow-sâkahikan

lake, God’s Lake

êkwa nipiy

and water

ê-sôhkêyimocik êkwa ê-nihtâwêcik

they are confident and they are eloquent

ê-âcimostawicik

they tell me a story

ê-kîmwêcik ê-âtotahkik ôma kihci-askiy.

They whisper a story about this great land.

kakwêcihkêmowin ohci kânata otâcimowina - a question for canadian history

kakwêcihkêmowin ohci kânata otâcimowina

a question for Canadian history

awa pêyak nêhiyaw

This one Cree

awîn âna wiya

who was he

kâ-kî- nakiskawât Henry Hudsonwa?

the one who met Henry Hudson?

kiskinohamâkêwin ohci kânata otâcimowina - an instruction for canadian history

kiskinohamâkêwin ohci kânata otâcimowina

an instruction for Canadian history

kiyâmapi

Hush, now

pêho êkwa

and wait

ahpô êtikwê kika-pêhtên kîkway

You might hear something

kipihtowêwinihk

in the silence

kiyâm - let it be

kiyâm

hush; be quiet; it will be all right

kiyâmapik

Be quiet you guys

“kiyâmapi,” nipêhtawâw awiyak ê-itwêt

“Shhh,” I hear someone saying

“mah! kêhtê-ayak ê-ayamihâcik.”

“Listen! The elders are praying.”