NationStates Jolt Archive

Tan'si,

Nikîki-apni-cî ôta? May I sit here?

On request, I've begun this thread to answer questions about aboriginal people, but more specifically about my people, the nêhiyawak, or Plains Cree.

An "ask a..." thread. Et tu, Sinuhue? :(

So like, do alot of Cree people hate whitey?

I can help! Should I start an "ask a Navajo" thread too? :p

Nah, I'll just borrow yours.

I can help! Should I start an "ask a Navajo" thread too? :p

Nah, I'll just borrow yours.
So like, do alot of Navajo people hate whitey?

An "ask a..." thread. Et tu, Sinuhue? :(
It was requested, because we were hijacking DC's thread. So hush.

So like, do alot of Cree people hate whitey?
Môniyâwak? There is definately some resentment.

Am I unique enough to start an 'Ask a fairly average Irish guy' thread?

I was actually going to TG you with a question, and that might still be easier, cuz I don't know if this is the proper thread...but anyway

Are there programs like "Teach America" or the peace corps that allow opportunities for people to come for a year or two and teach? I'm looking at options for what to do after graduation, and it seems like something that would be interesting, and hopefully helpful

What's your most comfortable bra size?

It was requested, because we were hijacking DC's thread. So hush.

*deçu*

I was actually going to TG you with a question, and that might still be easier, cuz I don't know if this is the proper thread...but anyway

Are there programs like "Teach America" or the peace corps that allow opportunities for people to come for a year or two and teach? I'm looking at options for what to do after graduation, and it seems like something that would be interesting, and hopefully helpful
To teach on Reserve? Or just teach in Canada? I'm confused.

Am I unique enough to start an 'Ask a fairly average Irish guy' thread?
beer, corned beef hash, cabbage, soda bread. Does that about cover it?
oh. And potatos.

okay, now I can't wait for St. Patrics...mmm....

What's your most comfortable bra size?
We nêhiyawak don't have a uniform breast size. Smart ass.

beer, corned beef hash, cabbage, soda bread. Does that about cover it?
oh. And potatos.

okay, now I can't wait for St. Patrics...mmm....
You forgot Irish Whiskey and songs about drinking and fighting.

To teach on Reserve? Or just teach in Canada? I'm confused.
sorry...should have clarified. I was looking at maybe teaching on a reserve...preferably in Canada since I'm looking to leave America for a few years if possible.

sorry...should have clarified. I was looking at maybe teaching on a reserve...preferably in Canada since I'm looking to leave America for a few years if possible.
Mmmm. No program that I know of. If you have teaching credentials, you could certainly apply directly to Band Schools for employment. They have a hard time getting teachers, and might even consider someone from the US.

Refused Party Program wants to know if you'll teach him how to ride a bicycle.

We nêhiyawak don't have a uniform breast size. Smart ass.

I saw the title and it was by "a" "woman," so I asked "a" "woman" a question, not meant to apply to "all" women or even all nêhiyawak at all. ;)

Meanie.

RPP:
No.

You forgot Irish Whiskey and songs about drinking and fighting.

And the drinking and fighting themselves, and the language. Which I'm pretty sure is only really useful as a cant.

Meanie.
:cool: D-36

Mmmm. No program that I know of. If you have teaching credentials, you could certainly apply directly to Band Schools for employment. They have a hard time getting teachers, and might even consider someone from the US.
alright...thanks. I'll definatly have to look into that and see if they would take an American (I'm New England...we like you guys better! Honest!)

This thread is for YOU SoWiBi...so stop folding laundry!:D

So like, do alot of Navajo people hate whitey?

Well, don't really hate em. After all, who else are we going to make vastly overpriced jewelry for? :p

Well, don't really hate em. After all, who else are we going to make vastly overpriced jewelry for? :p
Hey if you say it's got some kind of spiritual or religius significance to it we'll pay an extra 30% for it.

Well, don't really hate em. After all, who else are we going to make vastly overpriced jewelry for? :p
Ugh, we haven't really broken into that market yet. People like the west coast silver better than our bone jewlery:(

I've got two good questions, both related to race and genetics, and one is partly comfirmed by my Cree buddy. Its a trait that he has, and I've seen the effects in him. He says its common among aboriginals in northern north america.

First; is it a common trait that you have good skin blood circulation, and are resistant to frostbite, and possibly hypothermia? This one is the trait that he has. I've seen him stand outside for 12 hours(at work), in 30 below, with a stiff breeze, and not get the slightest frostbite. The rest of us were getting white patches on our noses and cheeks!

Second, is it true that indians have an easy time putting body fat on, and also losing it, as a genetic trait from being hunter/gatherers, that protects against famine?

What's your most comfortable bra size?
The correct answer is: True Cree women don't wear bras.

This thread is for YOU SoWiBi...so stop folding laundry!
Are the Cree rather hot-tempered, generally, or is patience a valued trait? If the latter, is there a special feather assigned to that feature?

Okay, sorry, will be back with real questions in a minute.

Ugh, we haven't really broken into that market yet. People like the west coast silver better than our bone jewlery:(

I like bone jewelry. We have so much silver and tourquoise crap...do I see a trade in the future?

What are your views on sombreros?

I've got two good questions, both related to race and genetics, and one is partly comfirmed by my Cree buddy. Its a trait that he has, and I've seen the effects in him. He says its common among aboriginals in northern north america.

First; is it a common trait that you have good skin blood circulation, and are resistant to frostbite, and possibly hypothermia? This one is the trait that he has. I've seen him stand outside for 12 hours(at work), in 30 below, with a stiff breeze, and not get the slightest frostbite. The rest of us were getting white patches on our noses and cheeks!

Second, is it true that indians have an easy time putting body fat on, and also losing it, as a genetic trait from being hunter/gatherers, that protects against famine?
Whew! Hmmm. My circulation was terrible until I had my first child, but maybe that's because my dad is white? No, I haven't heard Cree people say much about being resistant to frostbite, and the Inuvialuit people I lived with in the Northwest territories were just as prone to it as anyone else. However, they tend to have more body fat than we, and they sweat like crazy in fairly mild weather, so they definately handle the cold well. Cree complain just as much as anyone about cold weather. I can't confirm that there is a genetic resistance to the cold.

Easy putting on and taking off fat? Not so as you'd notice. But our diet has changed radically.

Hey if you say it's got some kind of spiritual or religius significance to it we'll pay an extra 30% for it.

30%? Try 500%! Honestly, the prices on the stuff is crazy. Put a tag in it saying "Authentic Native Art, made by Joe Bob Runningwater" and you can charge $200 for a dream catcher make of spare leather scraps, fishing line, and a few twigs from the backyard.

The correct answer is: True Cree women don't wear bras.


Are the Cree rather hot-tempered, generally, or is patience a valued trait? If the latter, is there a special feather assigned to that feature?

Okay, sorry, will be back with real questions in a minute.
Smart aleck môniyâw. If anything we pride ourselves on having a wicked sense of humour.

What are your views on sombreros?
Only useful for doing the Mexican Hat Dance.

30%? Try 500%! Honestly, the prices on the stuff is crazy. Put a tag in it saying "Authentic Native Art, made by Joe Bob Runningwater" and you can charge $200 for a dream catcher make of spare leather scraps, fishing line, and a few twigs from the backyard.
I know, it's hilarious! West coast jewlery goes for an outrageous price. A quick carving of a raven on a small silver bracelet, and you sell it for $500 at a boutique. Grrr. Then, stuff that takes serious time and effort, like beaded mocassins, and you get offered $40.

Thanks Sinuhue. Those are the sort of questions I just cant ask a bunch of Cree, cause the oportunity is just too great to tell whitey some great BS and laugh about it later.

My friends dad is white as well.

I can confirm that the inuit sweat lots in warm weather. As well, the morphology of their noses and limbs is specialized for cold weather.

Thanks Sinuhue. Those are the sort of questions I just cant ask a bunch of Cree, cause the oportunity is just too great to tell whitey some great BS and laugh about it later.

My friends dad is white as well.

I can confirm that the inuit sweat lots in warm weather. As well, the morphology of their noses and limbs is specialized for cold weather.
That's a nice way to say they are short and stubby:)

You forgot Irish Whiskey and songs about drinking and fighting.

And about how the English are all bastards :)

Tans'i,

Nikîki-apni-cî ôta? May I sit here?

On request, I've begun this thread to answer questions about aboriginal people, but more specifically about my people, the nêhiyawak, or Plains Cree.
when I hear the word aboriginal I think of tribes in Austrailia, is the word used to describe other people also? (sorry for the dumb question, but all the Indians around here are called Native Americans, I am even uncomforable saying Indian now, it's been bothering me since the other thred, but you aren't American so I didn't know what to call you, although you are from North America so technically......crap, I don't do well with PC stuff.....) please explain.

30%? Try 500%! Honestly, the prices on the stuff is crazy. Put a tag in it saying "Authentic Native Art, made by Joe Bob Runningwater" and you can charge $200 for a dream catcher make of spare leather scraps, fishing line, and a few twigs from the backyard.
No shit? Nice scam.

when I hear the word aboriginal I think of tribes in Austrailia, is the word used to describe other people also? (sorry for the dumb question, but all the Indians around here are called Native Americans, I am even uncomforable saying Indian now, it's been bothering me since the other thred, but you aren't American so I didn't know what to call you, although you are from North America so technically......crap, I don't do well with PC stuff.....) please explain.
Quit freakin' apologising for your questions! Alright. In Canada, we are still officially called Indians. We are also officially separated into three groups. First Nations, Inuit, and Métis. We are also sometimes officially referred to as aboriginal or indigenous. We call ourselves all of these things. 'Indian' tends to be the term most often used in insults directed towards us, so we shy away from it, but 'First Nations Person' is unwieldy. Aboriginal is a pretty common term in Canada, when we don't simply identify ourselves more specifically with our own names, Nêhiyawak (Cree), Gwich'in (Dene) and so on.

In short, we haven't decided what to call ourselves, and we know you won't be able to memorise all our tribal names and tell us apart. To be on the safe side, stay away from 'Indian', even if we use it. It's almost like the 'n' word...but less likely to get you shot:)

OK, I'll bite....

Language survival is something of a minor hobby of mine.

I understand the Cree language is still spoken by approximately 45,000 people.

How's its transmission rate holding up? Is there a structured teaching programme? Are enough children actually speaking the language or are they switching to English or French?

And is the correct form for 'thank you' kinanâskomitin or têniki?

Smart aleck môniyâw. If anything we pride ourselves on having a wicked sense of humour.
Would I bother with you any other way? ;)
Oh, and is there a feather for wicked sense of humor? Okay, sorry.

How much do you feel involved with being Cree? I mean, does it determine a lot of things for you? If so, in which way(s)? In which way do you uphold/pass on the Cree culture? Is it alive where you live, that is, are there other Cree folks around you do, umm, Cree stuff with?

*has tons more, but will give you a chance*

Quit freakin' apologising for your questions! Alright. In Canada, we are still officially called Indians. We are also officially separated into three groups. First Nations, Inuit, and Métis. We are also sometimes officially referred to as aboriginal or indigenous. We call ourselves all of these things. 'Indian' tends to be the term most often used in insults directed towards us, so we shy away from it, but 'First Nations Person' is unwieldy. Aboriginal is a pretty common term in Canada, when we don't simply identify ourselves more specifically with our own names, Nêhiyawak (Cree), Gwich'in (Dene) and so on.

In short, we haven't decided what to call ourselves, and we know you won't be able to memorise all our tribal names and tell us apart. To be on the safe side, stay away from 'Indian', even if we use it. It's almost like the 'n' word...but less likely to get you shot:)
I had never heard anyone use indigenous, I could use that comfortably. There is a large Native American presence where I live and the "I" word really is like the "n" word around here. The tribes here like to be identified by their own tribal name and I am pretty good at telling at least 3 apart to do so, but when they get mixed (for lack of a better word) like my friend who is Aztec, Cherokee, and Seminole, I have trouble picking it out. I don't feel so guilty abou that though since he can look at me and say "Irish?" and not pick out the Scottish, and little bitty bit of Chickasaw.

when I hear the word aboriginal I think of tribes in Austrailia, is the word used to describe other people also? (sorry for the dumb question, but all the Indians around here are called Native Americans, I am even uncomforable saying Indian now, it's been bothering me since the other thred, but you aren't American so I didn't know what to call you, although you are from North America so technically......crap, I don't do well with PC stuff.....) please explain.

In Canada, we'd call them Natives, Aboriginals, first people, or by the tribal name, such as Cree, Inuit in the north(eskimo is not the right term), or sometimes less than nice things. They get us back though. Very rarely would we call them Native Canadians(but they are!)

The native people here are far less integrated than in America. They tend to be an identifiable people, rather than being strongly mixed into white culture. That being said, you are far more likely to see a white person here take no notice of a natives ancestry, and treat them like anyone else.

My next question... Sinuhue, this is a toughy. Better sit down. Is the reserve system, and the leadership of the bands, repressing Natives more than any racism on the part of the public at large? Would Natives be better off getting away from the reserves, indeed, abolishing the practice?

Would you by any chance have any, or be able to make sound clips of you speaking Cree? I've only really been exposed to the Mi'kmaq language for the most part, but I like listening to other languages and I'd like to hear what it sounds like.

Quit freakin' apologising for your questions! Alright. In Canada, we are still officially called Indians. We are also officially separated into three groups. First Nations, Inuit, and Métis. We are also sometimes officially referred to as aboriginal or indigenous. We call ourselves all of these things. 'Indian' tends to be the term most often used in insults directed towards us, so we shy away from it, but 'First Nations Person' is unwieldy. Aboriginal is a pretty common term in Canada, when we don't simply identify ourselves more specifically with our own names, Nêhiyawak (Cree), Gwich'in (Dene) and so on.

In short, we haven't decided what to call ourselves, and we know you won't be able to memorise all our tribal names and tell us apart. To be on the safe side, stay away from 'Indian', even if we use it. It's almost like the 'n' word...but less likely to get you shot:)
'Indian' is still pretty common where I live (Edmonton) in casual conversation, with no real negative connotation. Just old habit, really. From old school folk.

No doubt it'll pass out of circulation as they do (the old folk), but it's around for a while yet.

What do you consider "official" re your first statement? What qualifies it?

And a follow up to my previous question...

Are Cree syllabics actually used in daily life, or have people largely switched to the Latin alphabet?

I had never heard anyone use indigenous, I could use that comfortably. There is a large Native American presence where I live and the "I" word really is like the "n" word around here. The tribes here like to be identified by their own tribal name and I am pretty good at telling at least 3 apart to do so, but when they get mixed (for lack of a better word) like my friend who is Aztec, Cherokee, and Seminole, I have trouble picking it out. I don't feel so guilty abou that though since he can look at me and say "Irish?" and not pick out the Scottish, and little bitty bit of Chickasaw.
"Indigenous" is for educated television Indians. ;p

OK, I'll bite....

Language survival is something of a minor hobby of mine.

I understand the Cree language is still spoken by approximately 45,000 people.

How's its transmission rate holding up? Is there a structured teaching programme? Are enough children actually speaking the language or are they switching to English or French?
The biggest threat our language faces is the death of our elders. Many words and meanings will be lost with them. Our language was never written, and it's only been in the past few decades that attempts to write it down have been made. However, most reserve schools teach Cree either in an immersion setting, or as a second language. There are still people who are completely fluent in Cree, and more and more our young people are seeing our language as valuable. I myself am not as fluent as I would want to be. I can study the language in University, but I would need to be among my elders to really learn it well, and understand the concepts behind the words. You can't separate the language from the culture.

We have the benefit of being on of the largest groups left. Cree is relatively strong compared to other languages, and a lot of effort is being made to preserve and revitalise our language. We have many dialects, but we can generally understand one another. Our language is nêhiyawêwin, or the 'y' dialect.

Are enough children speaking Cree? Absolutely not. The Residential schools destroyed fluency in at least three generations, and it is extremely difficult to get it back. I suspect that this is the dip...we will see an upsurge in fluency in the years to come because our people value the language and are making extreme effort to learn it again.

And is the correct form for 'thank you' kinanâskomitin or têniki?
We generally say e'kosi (that's it) when just speaking informally. Kinanâskomitin is "I give you thanks" to one person, or Kinanâskomitinawaw to more than one person. Têniki...I never hear this one. I'm not sure what it means.

Would you by any chance have any, or be able to make sound clips of you speaking Cree? I've only really been exposed to the Mi'kmaq language for the most part, but I like listening to other languages and I'd like to hear what it sounds like.
Try this
http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?threadid=438344

Edit: My bad. Cree isn't on the list. Pity.

Would I bother with you any other way? ;)
Oh, and is there a feather for wicked sense of humor? Okay, sorry.

How much do you feel involved with being Cree? Sometimes I feel pretty cut off. I was raised off-Reserve, and my husband is not Cree, nor are most of my friends. But on the other hand, it is a guiding force in my life, and an integral part of my identity. I am learning a lot of things...most of us are, because we've lost so much. Am I as Cree as I could be? No. But I think I'm doing okay:)


I mean, does it determine a lot of things for you? If so, in which way(s)? In which way do you uphold/pass on the Cree culture?
It influences how I see the world. It influences how I feel I belong as a Canadian...which is to say, a bit on the outside. It gives me pride, but it is also a source of contention, as I feel I need to fight to protect my culture and to have it valued. I teach my children as much Cree as I myself know, but I feel that it isn't enough. I am trying tp pass my culture onto them, but it is lacking, because they are not growing up in a Cree community either. I try to educate people about the Cree, because there are many myths and a lot of misunderstandings based on a long, troubled relationship between us and the môniyâw (Europeans).
Is it alive where you live, that is, are there other Cree folks around you do, umm, Cree stuff with? Yes...Cree culture is alive and thriving. My home band is still there, and there are many Cree communities across Canada. I don't go 'home' as much as I should...to my reserve, which even though I didn't grow up living there, I am connected to. I was there all the time anyway, and many of my family members still are. You'll find us in the cities too...we are the majority (First Nations people) in Alberta, though there are Sioux, Blood and Peigan in the south.

In Canada, we'd call them Natives, Aboriginals, first people, or by the tribal name, such as Cree, Inuit in the north(eskimo is not the right term), or sometimes less than nice things. They get us back though. Very rarely would we call them Native Canadians(but they are!)
ya know, I've always kinda wondered this. when I was very little, Eskimo was recognized as the proper term. Over time, it has swapped to Inuit...any reason for this, or was Eskimo just really the wrong name? And if that is the issue, well...I think most of the tribe names aren't exactly "correct", so why is just Inuit/Eskimo corrected?

when I hear the word aboriginal I think of tribes in Austrailia, is the word used to describe other people also? (sorry for the dumb question, but all the Indians around here are called Native Americans, I am even uncomforable saying Indian now, it's been bothering me since the other thred, but you aren't American so I didn't know what to call you, although you are from North America so technically......crap, I don't do well with PC stuff.....) please explain.

I'm in the US, and that is changing. Back in the 80's-90's when everyone was all up in arms about being PC was when "Indians" got changed to "Native Americans". Most of the tribes/nations are going for a more historical approach and opting for the term "American Indian" now. No one really cares anymore, not even AIM. If someone gets upset with you because of the term you use, they were just looking for a reason to be angry with you. Don't worry about it.

My next question... Sinuhue, this is a toughy. Better sit down. Is the reserve system, and the leadership of the bands, repressing Natives more than any racism on the part of the public at large? Would Natives be better off getting away from the reserves, indeed, abolishing the practice?
Ay. Big question. I'll answer what I can now, and get back to you tomorrow (I have to leave in 10 minutes).

The reserves are incredibly important to us. They are our land base, and provide a tangible connection to our traditional territories. While it is true that most of us now live off-reserve, that doesn't mean we don't need them. They are our homelands. The Irish have Ireland, the Germans have Germany...we have the Reserves. Some might think that the reserves keep us isolated, but we are a communal, not individualistic people. We need to be together, we want to live together, and maintain our traditions. The Reserves need a lot of work. The system of band councils is often inherently corrupt. It does not resemble our traditional way of governance. But we no longer have the mobility we once did. When we didn't like a chief, we didn't kick him out, or agitate...we moved. Now we can't. We are bound to certain Reserves, even though our original organisation was based on kinship, but allowed us to move from band to band.

I'll come back to this in more depth tomorrow, but the short answer is 'no'. Abolishing the Reserves would solve nothing, and would only threaten our existance further.

Would you by any chance have any, or be able to make sound clips of you speaking Cree? I've only really been exposed to the Mi'kmaq language for the most part, but I like listening to other languages and I'd like to hear what it sounds like.
I shall do this tomorrow. The sound clips I had before are probably expired, so I'll record a bunch of stuff in the morning!

Are enough children speaking Cree? Absolutely not. The Residential schools destroyed fluency in at least three generations, and it is extremely difficult to get it back. I suspect that this is the dip...we will see an upsurge in fluency in the years to come because our people value the language and are making extreme effort to learn it again.


I genuinely hope for your sake (and here I use 'your' collectively) that this is true. I may only speak a couple of languages myself (though I can fight through two others), but I'm firmly in the camp that believes the loss of any language is a tragedy for the entire species.

Each language has its own unique way of looking at the world - even closely related languages like English and French have distinct ways of looking at concepts. Look at how English only has one way of 'knowing' something, whereas French has to either connaitre or savoir. The more different the language, the more different the concepts - whereas European romance languages separate nouns by gender, many North American languages (including, I think, Cree - but feel free to correct me on this) separate nouns by either animate or inanimate status.

I'd better stop ranting before I inadvertently hijack your thread, but I do hope that enough Cree realise what they're in danger of losing, and that the language continues to grow and flourish.

And a follow up to my previous question...

Are Cree syllabics actually used in daily life, or have people largely switched to the Latin alphabet?
The syllabics are used more up north than down here. We haven't 'switched' alphabets...we never had one. The syllabic alphabet was created...in one version it came as a vision to an elder, in another, it was a white man who invented it. The syllabic alphabet is not unique to Cree...you'll see it used for various aborginal languages, again, most commonly in the northern territories. In Saskatchewan, they tend to use it more, but the most common is to use the roman orthography, with various accent marks to denote the long vowels.

Try this
http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?threadid=438344

Edit: My bad. Cree isn't on the list. Pity.
It is actually, but the file is expired...it is only hosted for a short time.

'Indian' is still pretty common where I live (Edmonton) in casual conversation, with no real negative connotation. Just old habit, really. From old school folk. That's true. The older people will use it because it's more familiar. It's us young folk trying to PC it up:)



What do you consider "official" re your first statement? What qualifies it?
We are 'Indian' under the Indian Act. We are officially aboriginal, then First Nations, Inuit and Métis under the Charter (http://lois.justice.gc.ca/en/const/annex_e.html#II). So in legal documents, we can be referred to as any one of these names...though not necessarily interchangeably. A First Nations person is not Métis or Inuit, and visa versa.

To Sinuhue, or anyone else, not related to the Cree, but I just want to see if some information can be cleared up.

Does the word "Eskimo" carry about the same negative connatations to Inuits as "******" would to black people?

To Sinuhue, or anyone else, not related to the Cree, but I just want to see if some information can be cleared up.

Does the word "Eskimo" carry about the same negative connatations to Inuits as "******" would to black people?
It's just a silly word. They make fun of it...but really don't like it used in official contexts. And Inuit is easy enough to say:) I've never heard anyone get too pissed off about it...same with Indian, really.

Okay...I'll be back tomorrow!

E'kosi pitma!

Do you guys..

..like..

stuff? :confused:

Sinuhue, just a curiousity question:

Did any Cree representative assist to the Evo Morales presidential ceremony?

Give thanks to Leo Bassi, he made me think about it.. :)

I shall do this tomorrow. The sound clips I had before are probably expired, so I'll record a bunch of stuff in the morning!

Ah, thank you!

Also, do you know if there are big differences in the languages spoken by West Coast tribes compared to those spoken by East Coast tribes?

Ah, thank you!

Also, do you know if there are big differences in the languages spoken by West Coast tribes compared to those spoken by East Coast tribes?

There are. The southwest/mexican languages are related, while the eastern/northern languages tend to related, and so on. Dine (the Navajo language), Mayan and Apachee, for example, have similar roots. The word "Navajo" is actually an Apachee word for the Navajo people. The translations is something like "those people who hit us on the head with their axes", refering to the first known (and obviously hostile) meeting between the two. Dine has a few words in common with Sioux as well, but that is uncommon and probably just things picked up in passing. Like how "touchdown" in Japanese is still "touchdown".

Oh, so many things to address.

Eskimo- we used the same word in German until, say, 15 years ago or such. I was told that we were to substitute it with Inuit (yes, same word again) as Eskimo were to mean something like "raw meat eaters" in whatever language, and it were disrespectful of them and their culture? Not sure whether that's true, though.

So, Sin, you go to that Reserve often. Inhowfar is life different there? What may I regard as 'the typical Cree lifestyle'?

What do you want to pass on? What do you want to teach your kids that being (half) Cree is all about?

Would you by any chance have any, or be able to make sound clips of you speaking Cree? I've only really been exposed to the Mi'kmaq language for the most part, but I like listening to other languages and I'd like to hear what it sounds like.I am originally from Prince Edward Island and had a MicMac as a friend growing up.Is this the same as Mi'kmaq? It sounds the same but still...

Eskimo- we used the same word in German until, say, 15 years ago or such. I was told that we were to substitute it with Inuit (yes, same word again) as Eskimo were to mean something like "raw meat eaters" in whatever language, and it were disrespectful of them and their culture? Not sure whether that's true, though.


Well, They do eat raw meat. I am unsure that they would be offended by that. It would be more in the context of how you said it; the tone of your voice. As far as I know, 'Eskimo' is a tribe or band living in Alaska, and the name was indescriminately applied to all the northerners. That might be where offense is taken.


Inhowfar is life different there? What may I regard as 'the typical Cree lifestyle'?


Do you mind if a white guy takes a shot as that answer? Sinuhue Can slap me back in place when she returns, if I make any glaring errors. I have been privledged with many Native Canadian friends in my life, and did actually go to reserves several times as part of my job. I'll be very careful to answer only what I saw and experienced.

The Reserves are somewhat unkept. Likewise, the homes themselves are not always very neat and tidy. They are often in poor repair, for many reasons, the least of which is laziness. More often, it results from distractions such as substance abuse, depression, and lots of corruption. Personal Hygene is a different story; they tend to keep as clean as anyone. Dont let the smell of wood smoke fool you.

1.2 million natives(including mixed heritage) in Canada recieve 9 billion or more per year in federal money, as well as mineral rights from the land they live on, but very little of that reaches the people themselves. Of that, I do believe about 300 000 live on the reserves. It would be an enormous boon if they actually got the money that was due to them. I'll Let Sinuhue speak on the corruption issue, is she wishes to.

Reserves are very relaxed places. Time is not very important. They do a lot of socializing at each others homes. Sleep is best done when you are tired, and a little extra sleep never hurt anyone.

You get a lot of stray dogs on the reserves, although they tend to shoot them when they get too wild. When I was there, a dog fight broke out within inches of two children aged around 3-4. I was about 2 feet away myself. Not pleasant.

I was treated quite well, as I was there on beneficial business, and I also dont notice ill will in people.

As has been said, there is a communal sense of property, but with that comes a communal sense of responsibility. That means if you want something done, go ahead and do it yourself!

They are also people that dont believe in changing things just for the sake of making them better. Long grass and dandelions are just as nice as a mowed lawn, and far less effort. I tend to agree.

They have a great sense of humor. A lot of it is self deprecating humour, and I think white people take that the wrong way. Just because an indian makes fun of you, doesnt mean he doesnt like you. I think may of them believe that life is too important to take seriously.

They have learned to be happy with nothing, or very little. We should all know that lesson.

But still, dont believe the euro-romanticism attached to North American indians. It just isnt true...

Tans'i,

Nikîki-apni-cî ôta? May I sit here?
No, no you can't. You have to sit 1.37 meters to the left of the spot you're currently sitting in.

Well, They do eat raw meat. I am unsure that they would be offended by that. It would be more in the context of how you said it; the tone of your voice. As far as I know, 'Eskimo' is a tribe or band living in Alaska, and the name was indescriminately applied to all the northerners. That might be where offense is taken.
Well, I didn't say it were untrue that they ate raw meat, but I think the opinion is that it were offensive to our standards to call them by their dietary habits. Kinda like calling the French frog-eaters, or the Italians spaghetti-eaters, two common derogatory names in German.
I think it's about doing to them the same we do to 'our' folks, call them by what they call themselves, or by where they come from, geographically/historically.

Do you mind if a white guy takes a shot as that answer?
Absolutely not. I do await an answer from Sinuhue, as she's most likely to catch my drift as to what I wanted to know, but I appreciate any answers I can get.
-snip-
Thanks. I was, though, less looking for an insight into description of life in the Reservates like that (I've seen documentaries and such for that), but I aimed more for what makes being Cree for her personally, more the..culture, spiritual things too, more..non-material things, I guess. It's hard to say what exactly I mean, so I still hope for Sin to reach into my mind and know.

Mayan and Apachee, for example, have similar roots.

It's actually Nahuatl (Aztec) and Apachee that have the same roots. They belong to the Utah-Aztec family. The Aztecs originated in that area and later emigrated to central Mexico.

The languages native of central Mexico (Chichimec, Purepecha, Huastec, Zapotec, etc.) belong to another linguistic family. Mayan comes from yet another family. Even the Lowlands Mayan is very different from the varieties of Highland Mayan.

The North and Northwest also have many different languages, most of them lost.

I had never heard anyone use indigenous, I could use that comfortably.
Indigenous and aboriginal are both good words, especially when one is referring on a wider level to native peoples around the world. But I have an inherent aversion to hyphenations.

Would you by any chance have any, or be able to make sound clips of you speaking Cree? I've only really been exposed to the Mi'kmaq language for the most part, but I like listening to other languages and I'd like to hear what it sounds like.
Sinuhue speaking Cree (http://rapidshare.de/files/15162915/sinuhuecree.wav.html)

Tan'si!

Sinuhue nit'sîyihkâson. Nikîki-apni-cî ôta? Kayâs êtikwê ôki nêhiyawak ôtê ê-kî-hayâcik manitow-sâkahikanihk. Nitohcîn anita.

Hello, how are you?

Sinuhue is my name, may I sit here? A long time ago, the Cree used to live over there at Lac Ste. Anne. I'm from there.

Sinuhue, just a curiousity question:

Did any Cree representative assist to the Evo Morales presidential ceremony?

Give thanks to Leo Bassi, he made me think about it.. :)
Not that I know of, though you can be sure we've been celebrating and discussing him. He's abolished Bolivia's department of Indian Affairs, and a lot of us are debating the merits of that.

ya know, I've always kinda wondered this. when I was very little, Eskimo was recognized as the proper term. Over time, it has swapped to Inuit...any reason for this, or was Eskimo just really the wrong name? And if that is the issue, well...I think most of the tribe names aren't exactly "correct", so why is just Inuit/Eskimo corrected?
Inuit is what they call themselves. Inuit is the general name. The various tribes have their own names, like the Inuvialuit, and so on. Eskimo was a name given them by another tribe, but there has been some debate as to whether it actually means 'raw meat eaters', since no one is sure if it is a word that just SOUNDS Ojibwe, or what.

Anyway, the move has been to allow us to name ourselves...which makes sense, doesn't it? We have names for ourselves, why not use them?

Sinuhue speaking Cree (http://rapidshare.de/files/15162915/sinuhuecree.wav.html)

Tan'si!

Sinuhue nit'sîyihkâson. Nikîki-apni-cî ôta? Kayâs êtikwê ôki nêhiyawak ôtê ê-kî-hayâcik manitow-sâkahikanihk. Nitohcîn anita.

Hello, how are you?

Sinuhue is my name, may I sit here? A long time ago, the Cree used to live over there at Lac Ste. Anne. I'm from there.
Oh God, that sounds creepy! Like, really really creepy! That's probably the first time I'll vow to never ever listen to a certain NSer sound file again. This scared the hell out of me. I'll slowly back away from you now..yes, you may just keep sitting where you are..

I genuinely hope for your sake (and here I use 'your' collectively) that this is true. I may only speak a couple of languages myself (though I can fight through two others), but I'm firmly in the camp that believes the loss of any language is a tragedy for the entire species.

Each language has its own unique way of looking at the world - even closely related languages like English and French have distinct ways of looking at concepts. Look at how English only has one way of 'knowing' something, whereas French has to either connaitre or savoir. The more different the language, the more different the concepts - whereas European romance languages separate nouns by gender, many North American languages (including, I think, Cree - but feel free to correct me on this) separate nouns by either animate or inanimate status. Yes, there are animate and inanimate nouns. I agree that the language shapes how you see the world, as well as describing it. There are terms in any language that aren't directly translatable. We can try, but you just get an equivalent, not the complete meaning. For example, the term in Cree, " Ka peyakoskânewihk". It can mean, 'all in one family, tribe, community, world', but it is speaking of a kind of interconnectedness that includes the animals, the spirits and so on. It can be used to talk about just the people in your home, or extended to include the entire world. The meaning is better understood in context, but even with the words I've used to describe it, I'm not really telling you what it means. This is why our elders are so important. There are many terms that don't make sense within the Western context. When we learn new words, we aren't just learning sounds or names for things, we are learning cultural concepts.


I'd better stop ranting before I inadvertently hijack your thread, but I do hope that enough Cree realise what they're in danger of losing, and that the language continues to grow and flourish. I have this hope as well, and any talk about the language is not hijacking.

Ah, thank you!

Also, do you know if there are big differences in the languages spoken by West Coast tribes compared to those spoken by East Coast tribes?
Most aboriginal languages in North America are distinct from one another as Japanese is from German. Each language generally has many dialects, some of which are mutually understandable (the difference being mostly accent and slight pronunciation differences), and others which are different enough to be as good as a different language altogether. Cree and Ojibway are part of the Algonquian language family...there are about 10 languages related this way, in Canada and the US. Athapaskan languages include Dene, and talk about foreign sounding to us! They have sounds in Dene I can hardly hear, much less reproduce, and the Dene often live side by side with the Cree. Michif is a Métis language, which takes French nouns and Cree verbs...I can't understand much of it, just a few words here and there. Haida, which is spoken on the West Coast is a language all on its own, unrelated to any other, like Korean is totally unique. Also spoken on the West Coast are various Salishan languages. I love the sounds. On the East Coast, you have some dialects of Cree, but the languages there are generally unrelated to the Algonquian.

So yes, there are BIG differences.

Oh, so many things to address.

Eskimo- we used the same word in German until, say, 15 years ago or such. I was told that we were to substitute it with Inuit (yes, same word again) as Eskimo were to mean something like "raw meat eaters" in whatever language, and it were disrespectful of them and their culture? Not sure whether that's true, though.

So, Sin, you go to that Reserve often. Inhowfar is life different there? What may I regard as 'the typical Cree lifestyle'?

What do you want to pass on? What do you want to teach your kids that being (half) Cree is all about?
Well, you've gotten a description of the Reservations which is pretty accurate. "Typical Cree lifestyle", well that's a bit harder to describe. I'll give you some basic overviews, but the most important thing to understand is that we are a unique culture. Our worldview, our kinships and so on, are just different. Some of the differences are obvious, but some are less so. This has caused us many problems when dealing with the Europeans, and even still with those who have settled and created their own Canadian culture.

Kinship. It is very important with us. Again, we are a communal, not individualistic people. That doesn't mean we necessarily work together on all things, but there is an understanding of ourselves within a greater peyakôskan...family, tribe, people, community, whatever. Our bonds with one another, it's something I can't explain simply. I'll give you a few examples of how we see our families differently. For one, we don't call each other by name...it's disrespectful. So the stereotype that all natives call each other 'cousin' is kind of true. We do. The way we refer to one another can tell you a bit about our kinships. Nikâwiy, my mother. My mother's sisters are also my mothers, and the word we use for aunt is almost the same as mother....my mother's sister, nikâwis. My mother's brothers are my uncles. My father, nohtâwiy. His brothers (if my father had them, and was Cree), would be my fathers too. My father's brother, nôhcâwîs. It looks a bit different but is pronounced almost the same as father. My father's sisters are just my aunts, a bit separated from me.

Confused yet? It gets better. My mother's sisters, my mothers, their children are my brothers and sisters, not my cousins. They are as close to me as my mother's children. The same is true of my father's brother's children. When my mother's sister's daughter has a child, that child is my child's sister too. That's where the sibling relationship stops...at the second generation. So there is an extended bond there. The cousins are the ones who are the children of my father's sister, or my mother's brother.

This is just a small example of how our families are different. The difference is important, because it means stronger bonds between what you would call extended family...what for us is very close family. We have responsibilities towards those who are close to us. We traditionally raise children in common...and it makes sense if you realise that most of our 'aunts' and 'uncles' are actually considered our parents. Traditionally, the grandparents raised the kids, while the parents themselves did the work to support the tribe. You still see this a lot, and people just think it's because our men and women are irresponsible, abandoning their children to the elders. That's not so. It is the responsibility of the elders to punish children, not the parents. You don't get a smack from your mom...you fear kôkhom (your grandmother) because she'll belt you one if you need it.

I don't consciously teach all of this to my kids...they just know some 'cousins' are closer to them than others. Many things I expect my mother to pass onto them, as I will pass on things to my children's children. Some things are for mothers to teach, but others are for the elders.

I've run out of breath:) I'll wait for more questions before I end up writing a book.

I am originally from Prince Edward Island and had a MicMac as a friend growing up.Is this the same as Mi'kmaq? It sounds the same but still...
The spelling has changed. MicMac is how the Europeans spelled the name they heard, but Mi'kmaq is more proper, using the roman orthography adopted for that language.

Oh God, that sounds creepy! Like, really really creepy! That's probably the first time I'll vow to never ever listen to a certain NSer sound file again. This scared the hell out of me. I'll slowly back away from you now..yes, you may just keep sitting where you are..
Creepy? Why creepy? Scary? I'm very confused.

*listens to the clip again*
Creepy?
*is sad*
Vows never to start a thread for SoWiBi again.:(

My apologies in advance if this is a silly question; while I know a little about Aboriginal Australians and New Zealand Maori, I know next to nothing about Aboriginal Canadians.

My question is this. How important is religion/spirituality in the preservation of Cree culture? A couple of years back I did some research on various aspects of Australian Aboriginal religions, and, for Indigenous Australians who still try to uphold their culture, spirituality isn't something which is distinct from other aspects of every day life, and is very important to cultural identity.

Is it in any way similar for Cree? Can you distinguish culture from spirituality? Are Cree very Christianised, or not? And if they are, has Christianity replaced Indigenous beliefs, or merged into them in a syncretic form?

Or is spirituality unimportant, which would make my whole question pointless? ;)

I imagine the answer varies depending on individual Cree, so what's your take on it, what's your Elders' take, and that of Cree in general today?

I imagine the answer varies depending on individual Cree, so what's your take on it, what's your Elders' take, and that of Cree in general today?
Spirituality is not separate from culture for us. That seems to be something that most aboriginal cultures would agree on. Even in our language, there are certain things that are considered animate, and others that are inanimate. Humans and animals are obviously animate...but some things are less obvious. Rocks, certain berries (other berries are inanimate), places, some bodies of water, etc. Certain things are sacred. They just are, there isn't a need to explain why.

Our elders know more about these things, know the stories, know where the sacred places are, and teach us. The younger generations know some things, but not all, yet there is still that spirituality there. It's not the same as religion. I'm an atheist, but the spiritual aspects of my culture that do not interfere with my atheism. They are about respect, not worship. Many native people were forced to adopt Christianity, but as is the case throughout the world, we have blended it with our own spiritual beliefs.

For example, manitow-sâkahikanihk, or Lac St. Anne. Every year, native people go to this lake to bathe in it, because the waters are sacred. Those waters have ALWAYS been sacred to us, hence the 'manitow' in the name. There is a Christian story about the lake now, so it is sanctioned by the church to go there, but the sacredness of that lake came long before the Catholics. The beliefs complement one another.

*listens to the clip again*
Creepy?
*is sad*
Vows never to start a thread for SoWiBi again. :(Yeah, creepy. No kidding, this made me get a shiver down my spine. You know, the mental image I got was you staring at me with eyes wide open and slowly approaching me, making funny gestures with your hands.
Sorry, though. No fair! I do appreciate the thread, the clip wasn't for me after all! The one I once requested (and got), I liked it and still have it, so..

[/SIZE]Yeah, creepy. No kidding, this made me get a shiver down my spine. You know, the mental image I got was you staring at me with eyes wide open and slowly approaching me, making funny gestures with your hands.
Sorry, though. No fair! I do appreciate the thread, the clip wasn't for me after all! The one I once requested (and got), I liked it and still have it, so..
The clip you had before had a very small clip of Cree. I wanted to do a bigger one this time to demonstrate the sound of it. Hmmm. We tell so many stories in Cree, I think the cadence is made for it. It sounds normal to me...and funny gestures? I'm no good at Cree hand-speak.

The clip you had before had a very small clip of Cree. I wanted to do a bigger one this time to demonstrate the sound of it. Hmmm. We tell so many stories in Cree, I think the cadence is made for it. It sounds normal to me...and funny gestures? I'm no good at Cree hand-speak.
I listened to it, it doesn't sound creepy to me at all. It sounds a lot different than the Native American languages here though, it was kinda cool.

The clip you had before had a very small clip of Cree. I wanted to do a bigger one this time to demonstrate the sound of it. Hmmm. We tell so many stories in Cree, I think the cadence is made for it. It sounds normal to me...and funny gestures? I'm no good at Cree hand-speak.
I know, I've been re-running it.
And now that I looked up cadence, I think that's what made it so creepy, yes. It's so..rocking? I can't picture it being talked without a swaying motion of at least the upper body, somehow. Okay, let's just call me weird and move on.

As to your other post..you actually did manage to answer what I wanted to hear, that's awesome. And you conveniently answered the next question I'd have had, about other religions interfering, too.

I'll ahve to be off, but I'll find lots more questions. Just you wait.

I listened to it, it doesn't sound creepy to me at all. It sounds a lot different than the Native American languages here though, it was kinda cool.
Listen to how Dene sounds (http://www.schoolnet.ca/aboriginal/audiosam/dene/dene-e.html)

Dene makes my tongue hurt just listening to it!

Listen to how Dene sounds (http://www.schoolnet.ca/aboriginal/audiosam/dene/dene-e.html)

Dene makes my tongue hurt just listening to it!
sounds more familiar, kinda like Cherokee, but not quite.

And here is the Gwich'in (http://www.yukoncollege.yk.ca/ynlc/langlessons/gwichin/main.html) dialect of Dene I'm more used to hearing.

If you have real player, you can listen to some more Cree here (http://www.saskpublishers.sk.ca/sampler/spotlight/freda.shtml). Just scroll down to where it says Ms. Ahenakew reading from Stories of the House People (in Cree). Freda is very well known for her work preserving our language.

<SNIP about spirituality>

Thanks; that's very interesting. :)

It does sound quite similar to Indigenous Australian spirituality in many ways.

If you have real player, you can listen to some more Cree here (http://www.saskpublishers.sk.ca/sampler/spotlight/freda.shtml). Just scroll down to where it says Ms. Ahenakew reading from Stories of the House People (in Cree). Freda is very well known for her work preserving our language.
Can't get the sample to play, but that may just be my Real Player trying to get on my nerves again. :(

But your sample was really interesting - not that I've heard Native American languages spoken that often before, but every time I do, I'm struck by how slowly they are spoken. I think the slowness together with the flowing cadences is what always makes them sound so... thoughtful or "deep", for lack of a better word. You can totally picture them accompanied by slow to-and-fro rocking motions, like SoWiBi said. It always sounds like the speaker has something really important to say and you better listen closely, or the wisdom of the universe may just elude you. While in reality it could just as well be the local yellow pages, for all I know. :p
(Yes, I'm aware that I'm lumping all the languages together again, but I think almost all of the times I've ever heard any of them spoken was in movies/documentaries, and I really don't remember what languages they were. Although Cree seems to sound somewhat familiar to my ear, so maybe I've mainly come across the more related languages before).

A lot of people comment that native language seem to be spoken slowly. The thing with Cree is, there are pauses and long vowels...long in the sense of being drawn out, not necessarily pronounced differently. We also encapsulate a lot in a single word, or give very detailed descriptions. Nohkôm means 'my grandmother', and kohkhôm means 'your grandmother', so these words are shorter. But our language is oral, not written (until recently) so it means that we need to be very precise. When naming animals, for example, we can be general, like you can in English 'maskwa' meaning 'bear'. But when we want to be specific, our words can seem somewhat long. A black bear is a kaskitêwi-maskwa, but we usually are talking more specifically, like a female black bear which is nôsê-kaskitêwi-maskwa (which when spoken sounds like one long word, which it is, really, and double the syllables of the English translation). But trust me...if you're trying to learn the language, you won't be complaining that it's spoken too slowly!

Here (http://www.cri.ca/publications/public_consultation/#) are some better links to both Cree and Dene. They are just translating a uranium mine publication:)

Alright, I'm gone for the weekend! Tomorrow we celebrate the birthday of nitânis (my daughter)...woohoo!

Kihtam!

The clip you had before had a very small clip of Cree. I wanted to do a bigger one this time to demonstrate the sound of it. Hmmm. We tell so many stories in Cree, I think the cadence is made for it. It sounds normal to me...and funny gestures? I'm no good at Cree hand-speak.
I listened to it, the cadence sounds very much like some of the languages of southern and central-south Mexico, kind of like Maya-Quiche or Mixtec. I'm sure the words are totally different, though.

It's nice. I could follow it easily.

I listened to it, the cadence sounds very much like some of the languages of southern and central-south Mexico, kind of like Maya-Quiche or Mixtec. I'm sure the words are totally different, though.

It's nice. I could follow it easily.
Okay, peeking in from home while my lunch cooks...

I feel very comfortable with the pace of speech that most aboriginal people I've met have. We aren't in a big hurry to get the story told and done with, or the conversation finished. Stories can take days to tell. We don't need them condensed into Coles Notes versions:). This is probably why transcribing our stories won't be a great idea...we need to record them being told, so that young people can learn the stories and pass them on, if they can't learn from the elders themselves.

We have a lot of respect for those that can speak well, but our standards are not Western. Those among us that can speak well may not say everything 'properly', or succinctly, but they speak with heart, and capture our imaginations with their descriptions.

In Spanish, I can rattle off a phrase at a million miles an hour. The language seems built for speed. English, is the confusing, uncertain language that needs constant definition and redefinition in order to makes oneself clear. For me, Cree is the compact language, the one that says the most in few words, that is capable of expressing very complex concepts in single words or phrases. That's just my viewpoint of course, and doesn't actually reflect the languages themselves. But when I speak of concepts dealing with spirituality, the words come to me in Cree, not English. Then again, I'm not entirely fluent, not to the extent I want to be, so perhaps I give it more weight than it merits? Who knows.

*listens to the clip again*
Creepy?
*is sad*
Vows never to start a thread for SoWiBi again.:(

I liked it! :p

It sounds sweet and peaceful...

And about how the English are all bastards :)
But.... yeah a big but... we don't drink and fight.....we fight then drink hehehe lol;)

I am originally from Prince Edward Island and had a MicMac as a friend growing up.Is this the same as Mi'kmaq? It sounds the same but still...

Micmac is a varient spelling of Mi'kmaq, it's mostly outdated.

Any questions today, SoWiBi?

Sinuhue speaking Cree (http://rapidshare.de/files/15162915/sinuhuecree.wav.html)

Tan'si!

Sinuhue nit'sîyihkâson. Nikîki-apni-cî ôta? Kayâs êtikwê ôki nêhiyawak ôtê ê-kî-hayâcik manitow-sâkahikanihk. Nitohcîn anita.

Hello, how are you?

Sinuhue is my name, may I sit here? A long time ago, the Cree used to live over there at Lac Ste. Anne. I'm from there.

Ooh, thankyou. I like the sound of that. It's a very nice language, I would be sad if it died out in the future.