-𝔘𝔭𝔬𝔫 𝔩𝔢𝔞𝔯𝔫𝔦𝔫𝔤 ℭ𝔯𝔢𝔢 𝔴𝔬𝔯𝔡𝔰 𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔯𝔢𝔣𝔩𝔢𝔠𝔱𝔦𝔫𝔤 𝔬𝔫 𝔱𝔥𝔢 ℑ𝔫𝔡𝔦𝔤𝔢𝔫𝔬𝔲𝔰 𝔢𝔵𝔥𝔦𝔟𝔦𝔱𝔦𝔬𝔫-
I am fond of language learning, for it provides a fulfilling sense of achievement and allows the mind to expend both its knowledge and vision on the world. Since I’ll be in Canada for some time, and as the suggestion asks us to do, I decided to learn some basic words of Cree (Indigenous most spoken dialect).
I discovered that the written form of these words (and even the words themselves) varied from a source/region to another. Therefore, hello could be spelled Tânsi (with a streak on the a, but unfortunately, my keyboard does not have this accent, although some do write it with a circumflex accent…) or Tânisi. I’d say the second source I used (Online Cree Dictionary, Cree Language, Cree: Words, Alberta Elders' Dictionary, Maskwacis) should be more trusted that the YouTube video ((670) Mini Cree lesson with Randy Morin - YouTube), but still, I included both to show the difference. The reason why they slightly differ might me that the first i isn’t pronounced, so perhaps, some have reduced it to the written form: Tânsi.
I observed that the h was not always pronounced; for ‘I love you,’ Ki sâkihitin, the h cannot be heard, it sounds as if the syllable “hi” wasn’t present.
Like in English (and other languages of course), the letter i isn’t pronounced always the same. To keep the previous example, the two middle i are pronounced like an English e, and the first and last ones are pronounced like a (without the y sound). Another lovely and interesting thing I learned is that Indigenous people don’t differentiate people’s genders. Therefore, Wîya means him/her!
Here’s a fun video ((670) Cool words in Cree - YouTube) in which I was surprised to see the richness of the language, they have a word for “jedy!”
Finally, I sometimes felt like I was speaking Japanese, especially with the word thank you: Hiy Hiy.
The aspect of the Indigenous culture I find most compelling is their connection to nature, to the spirits that are present all around (and in!) them, and all the benefits nature can provide them (medicine, metaphysical, communication…). I love learning about religions, beliefs and traditions. I’d be delighted to attend a ritual/sacred celebration and perhaps enter a state of trance in which I’d make one with nature and the world around me.
Learn about other cultures <3
Lou-Ann Onillon (20241041)
