Counting in Cree

Today I will learn how to count in Cree and to do so I plan on searching for an app or something online that I can practice with.  But before I do I wanted to document what I know already which is One to 19:

Piyak-One.  Niso-Two.  Nisto-Three.  Niyo-Four.  Niyanan-Five

Nitwakwasik-Six.  Tipakohp-seven.  Ayinaniw-eight.  Kika mitataht-nine.  Mitataht- ten

And then I know from 11 to 19 all you do is add an osap at the end of each number.  It’s after 19- Kika mitatahtosap that I don’t know.

On the following site video there is a video that explains how to count from 20-29: starting with Nistanaw-20 then you add piyakosap which is 11. Nistanaw piyakosap 21, nistanaw nisosap 22, nistanaw nistosap 23… and so on.   http://www.isuma.tv/aboriginal-perspectives/video2-8

I found a site that provides online flashcards for counting from 1-10 in Cree and other vocabulary:

A learning video for beginners to learn one to ten:

Facebook lacks in diversity

CBC released an article about Facebook insisting Aboriginal names as non authentic when user’s are signing up, this really shows the lack of diversity that our social media has.

safe youtube for kids

Google released a new app for kids safe youtube exploring. I think this is a great way to filter out the inappropriate images or videos that little ones can otherwise see on normal youtube.

Stories, Songs, and Animation in Cree

I am learning about the most effective ways I learn.  The best ways I retain information is through song and through visuals.  Through the “Cree word of the day” facebook group someone posted a link to a song that is recorded on the following link Cree days of the week .  It’s great because I find singing along helps me remember how to say the words properly.

This youtube video is just so cute, I needed to post it as I was learning about different animals last week I stumbled upon this and I would totally sing this with a younger class.

The following youtube video is a legend told by a man from Saskatchewan Joseph Naytowhow.  Storytelling is a very important element to Cree culture so i enjoyed listening to this legend that is told in Cree and English.

Response to “Sex’t up kids”

After watching Sex’t up kids I felt kind of hopeless.  The film didn’t give very much solid advice or possible solutions to helping children who are influence by the media in negative ways.  As a future teacher and very soon to be mother, I will be observing and discussing images of the media with children thoroughly and ongoing because it is everywhere and especially with such easy assess to the internet at all times it’s so important that we teach children starting at a young age to think critically, which doesn’t necessarily mean to look at things through a negative lens but to be aware of how the images affect our mental state and how we feel about ourselves and others.

I also felt “Sex’t up kids” was mainly female focused, I would not hesitate to share this film in a age appropriate  classroom but I would watch it in tandem with a documentary film called “Tough Guise” which focuses on how the media sets up men to act in violent ways in order to be more “manly”.  These two films together would be the trigger to some really effective discussions in a classroom.

Names of animals in Plains Cree

I found an amazing site for starting to learn Swampy Cree, Woodlands Cree, Plains Cree and Dene this site has vocabulary exercises that are simple to use and I’m finding very useful because I need to hear the words before I can learn the words.

I just clicked on Plains Cree and it has lists of what words you would like to learn anything from in class objects to kinship terms.

This is an example of the kinship terms, you click on cousin, auntie, grandma etc. and there is a recording of how to say it and an animation included which would be nice for children as well.  I LOVE THIS SITE.  It was created by the Lac La Ronge Indian Band curriculum resource unit.  Here’s a video explaining how useful this website is.

There is also a link on how to teach Cree or Dene, lays out the curriculum for all grades.

This week I have been focusing on animal names and using this site to help me. So far so good!

Use of technology to preserve languages.

My classes appear to be crossing over a little for the past week, I’ve been assigned reading from my EIND and EPSY class that touch on the subject of the importance of keeping Aboriginal languages from becoming extinct. Readings from both classes touched on how having Aboriginal languages taught in schools is so important and what was interesting is that the use of technology to preserve languages was a tool that was suggested in one of my readings. Many Aboriginal languages are well documented and recorded online, this gives these languages a chance to survive even though as the years pass there are fewer people who use these languages as their mother tongue, we can strive to teach Aboriginal languages in our schools to at the very least have students speaking them as a second language. It makes me feel more at ease knowing some Aboriginal languages won’t be extinct as long as we can these online resources. In my learning project I am focusing on Cree but there are so many other awesome sites for other Aboriginal languages such as Mi’kmaq on this site you can find lessons, dictionary, prayers, songs etc. Here is a quote from the home page “This is dedicated to all the elders and ancestors who dared to dream the dream of keeping our culture and language strong while taking control of our education, to all of those who work to make that dream come true, and to the children who will have to work even harder to make it come true for their children.” That quote really touched home and made me realize how important language and culture are and that we as future teachers need to know our students and the communities we teach in so we can provide a space where diverse cultures are celebrated and included in our teachings.

Cree Conversation, and Cree Songs

This week I’ve been exploring the Cree Literacy Network, there are some fabulous posts on there and great information. I know how to have a simple conversation in Cree but it’s always good to practice so I found some easy conversation’s posted on there which I screen shot. If there’s one thing I know about learning a language it’s use it or lose it, because I don’t know many Cree speakers in Regina I decided to start listening to Cree songs so I can at least hear it, and I use at least one Cree word a day in a sentence even if I’m talking to myself. This morning I said “awas” to my cat, it means go away. My cat was annoying this morning.

This first song is a great song for kids to learn how to have a simple conversation. It’s easy and fun to sing :

This second song is a great morning song, called Waniska, it’s a beautiful song, here are the lyrics and video to follow.
waniskâ! pêtâpan ôma
âsay piyêsîsak kî-nikamowak
ê-miyonâkwan kitaskînaw

Wake up! The sun is coming.
The birds are already singing
How beautiful this land of ours is.