How to learn Cree or an indigenous language
How did you decide to make this diary/textbook?
2019 is declared as UNESCO’s year of International Languages. I am working with a First Nations college on the Maskwacis reserve, Alberta. Language is culture and the indigenous knowledge was passed by our ancestors in their indigenous language and hence it is important to learn the language. Preservation and using the language will keep the language alive. Not everything can be translated or transliterated into the English language. Cree language is a form of expression for a ‘Nehiyaw’ person. Nehiyaw means four bodied and includes elements of Earth, wind, fire, and sky.
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What are you trying to achieve with this diary/textbook?
I want to contribute to the simple ways in which we can learn the Cree language with resources around us I our environment. I want to share the numerous ways in which I am learning the Cree language. Learning the Cree language requires a holistic approach of integrating listening, speaking, reading, and writing by using Cree syllabics. My focus is on work place learning on a zero budget and these ideas can be used at home. Have the eyes to see the Cree habitats in our society.
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What have you done so far?
Once a week I have written some notes about root words, researchers using Cree words in their writing, environment print and I have posted this on our bog.
Anomalous log
Day | Time | Minutes | Type of learning opportunity | Learning Technique | Examples | Cree words | Meaning/Interpretation of Cree word | Transfer of learning | Resource/Weblink |
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March 25 | 4:30 pm | 5 mi | Research | Research and Conversation with self | itôtamowin | In the article entitled Kwayask itôtamowin : Indigenous Research Ethics, Ermine et al. (2005) list their ethical framework for collaborators | Itôtamowin = doing |
Miyo itôtamowin = doing good things||
|March 26|12:30 pm|1 min|Lunch time see online Creedictionary
Search SPRING|||· kichimos ᑭᒋᒧᐢ N your cousin ie. A brother’s and a sister’s off spring relation to each other. (MD)
· miyoskamin ᒥᔪᐢᑲᒥᐣ N Springtime. (MD)
· tahchiwepaham ᑕᐦᒋᐁᐧᐸᐦᐊᒼ VP He springs it loose, with an object. E.g. A trap. (MD)
· tahchiwepahwew ᑕᐦᒋᐁᐧᐸᐦᐁᐧᐤ VP He springs him loose, sets him free, with an object. (MD)||||
|March 27|11 am|5 min|CS 2000B|Picture
Text=Engl,SRO,Syllabics
Learn sentences|Sentences|Atoskeyan
Atoskeci||Atoskayan is part of introducing myself.
Repeat word||
|March 27|10 am|1 min|Meeting minutes
Immersion|SRO
Parking|||||March 12th Cree language and Culture meeting minutes: Jerry: Culture camp planning: I think we should go with Syllabics. A phased agenda; the first phase, where do you park, ota.
Kanakew. Here are a few suggestions; we can also call them by their Indian name, where do you congregate?, Chauffeuring. Second Phase Roman Orthography. The third Phase can consist of setting up of your tent. For example; Onoketam. It’s total emersion. We can also ask Owiyak peteowkeykwey?, did anyone bring lodging? Signal attached to the word. Another example can be Owatak (load the stuff out of the pick-up). Using baby talk, after several rounds of it then they understand.|
|Day|Time|Minutes|Type of learning opportunity|Learning Technique|Examples|Cree words|Meaning/Interpretation of Cree word|Transfer of learning|Resource/Weblink|
|March 28|12:10 pm|5 min|Root words|Self study Online Cree dictionary|taneki|||||
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Who is on your team?
Wanted team members
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Please share a maximum of three questions. These questions can be specific to your project or address broader open textbook themes.
- …Ethical ways of learning an indigenous language
- … Practice and resources help expand my learning network and provide supports to learn. How to expand my team
- … Community programs are support and Cree habitats