In this weeks episode we are joined by Deloris Rain, a fluent Cree speaker and teacher from Maskwacîs, AB.

Deloris teaches us the fundamental phonetic sounds in nêhiyawêwin, some great conversational terms we can use in our daily speaking and also treats us to a traditional teaching and story of wîsahkêcâhk.

Deloris is available to teach the Cree language in person in both individual, and classroom settings and has plans to create audio lessons for home study learners.

Dan Cardinal is a Cree language teacher who has taught with many schools throughout Alberta including St. Josephs High School, Ben Calf Robe, Concordia University, CNFC, Red Deer College and Portage College . Dan also spent many years as the Vice President of the Metis Nation of Alberta. Dan continues to be a strong advocate for preserving the Cree language since the 1980's.

This weeks vocabulary

āsay – already, without delay

mīna – and

kitatamiskâtin – I greet you , ki (t) atamiskât in

namōya nantāw -I am not bad, I am fine

ninanāskomon ē-nitomiyan ōta kā – pē- piksweyan – I am grateful you invited me here to speak

tāpwē – it is true

nīsta mīna – me also

nimiywêyihtên – I am happy

āsay mīna – and , already

ê-wâpamitân – I am seeing you

nīsta – me also

tāpwē – it is true

anohc – today , miyo kīsikāw – it is a good day

anohc yîkwaskwan – it is cloudy today

apisis yîkwaskwan – a little bit cloudy

wāpahki apisis kā-yīkwaskwan – tomorrow it will be a little cloudy

kimiwan – rain, it is raining

mitoni – very , much , a lot

mistahi – very much , a lot , greatly

mitoni mistahi kimiwan – it is raining heavily

kîwê-sîkipêstâw – it is down pouring

aya – ah , well, hmm

ēwako – this , that

kimiwanayāw – it is raining there , misponayâw – it is snowing there

ninisitohtên – I understand

apisis kimiwan – a little rain

kimiwanis – a little rain

mispon – falling snow , there is snow falling

misponayaw – it is snowy (flurries)

kōna – snow ( on the ground )

mistahi ē-mispon – it is snowing alot

ē-pimohtēyān ē-misponayaw – I am walking as it is snowing

ê-kiskinwahamâkêyân nêhiyawêwin – I am teaching Cree language

kiskinwahamâkan – student

nikiskinwahamâkân – i teach

niyānan askiy – 5 years

wâwâskêsiw sâkahikan – Lac la Biche (Elk Lake)

wâhyaw – far away

mekwac – right now, currently

ka-otâkosik – in the evening

nikotwāsik tipahikan – six o’ clock

ayinānēw tipahikan – eight o’clock

isiyihkâtêw – it is called this

mīhcet – many , alot

ôma niya nikî-pê-ohpikin – ” where I grew up”

ôcênâs – town , village , settlement

tānisi isiwepan ? – How is the weather ?

Tānisi kīsik kīsikak ? – How is the sky today ?

anohc kisāstēw – today the weather is hot

anohc kisin – today is cold

ekwa mīna – and also

ka kītwan – you will say

anohc tahkāyāw – today is very cold

kisē – pīsim – january , cold month , great month

māyi – kīsikāw – it is a bad day

māyi – prefix for bad

miyo – prefix for bad

miyo kīskikāw – it is a good day

kīsikāw – day time

tipiskāw – night time, evening

pīsim – the sun

kīsikaw pīsim , the sun

tipiskāw pīsim – the moon

tahkāyāw ōma ka ōtakosīhk – it is cold this evening

yōtin – it is windy

anohc yōtin – today it is windy

yōtinisin – a little bit windy (diminutive)

mitoni yōtin – very windy

mistahi yōtin – very windy , big wind

ēkotē – over there

tānisi isiwepan ēkotē ? – How is the weather over there

ōta miyo kīsikāw māka yīkwaskwan – here it is a good day but it is cloudy

mistahi nimiywêyihtên – I am very happy , I am very glad

ē – wī – atoskēmak- my co worker i would work with

acimo – tell me a story

mawisowin – picking berries

kayās ka miywāsin – it was good back long ago

ayisiyiniwak – people ( plural)

ê-wîcihitok – we would help each other

nohkompam ka kīwē oho sīpiy – my late grandma lived in owl river

ekosi maka – that is all

Originally from the Peace River region of Treaty 8, Kathy is a Cree language teacher with the Learning Centre in Edmonton and has contributed greatly to the community as not only a teacher but also an advocate seeking justice for the homeless and First Nations women, people and youth.

Kathy Hamelin joins Rellik to teach us some feelings and emotions. In this weeks episode, we also discuss tense markers, personal pronouns and learn a few morphemes.