Marilyn Chalifoux and Sophia Cyre
Marilyn Chalifoux is Cree school teacher from Driftpile / Swan River area in Northern Alberta. Marilyn is a residential school survivor who had her language forcibly taken from her. She has regained her language over the last 25 years and now proudly shares her knowledge with her communities. Sophia Cyre is Marilyn’s daughter who is also known by her hip hop stage moniker “Geli – Bean.” They stopped by the studios to share some Cree language with our listeners.
Segment 1 – Command Words
Api – Sit (command)
nīpawi – stand (command)
pasikō – get up (command)
pīhtokwē – come inside ( command)
pē – āstam ōtē – come over here ( command)
nētē – over there
nakī – stop
pōyo – stop ( command)
ponī – ( prefix to stop ) IE Ponī – ayamihcikē ( stop reading)
pon – miciso – stop eating
sēmāk – right now , at once , immediately
nikamow – sing
e – nikamoyan – I am singing
mēkwāc – right now , at this current time , currently
mēkwāc ē-nikamoyān – am singing right now
Segment 2 – Colors
mīhkwāw – Red , it is red
osāwāw – yellow, it is yellow
wāpiskāw – white, it is white
wāpiskāw maskwa – white bear
askihtikwāw – green, it is green
askiy – earth , land, soil , dirt , a year cycle
askipwāwa – Earth Eggs (pl) ( Potatoes)
kaskitēwāw – black, it is black
kaskitēw-osāwāw – brown , it is brown
wāpikwanīwinākwan – pink , it is pink
sīpihkwāw – blue , it is blue
mihko-sīpihkwāw – purple , it is purple ( it is red- blue)
mītas – pants
ê-postiskawaw mihko mītas – they are wearing red pants
Segment 3 – Conversational
ê-sipwêhtêyân – I am departing, I am leaving
ê-sipwêhtêyâhk – We ( but not you) are all departing
nimiywêyihtên – I am happy
nimiywêyihtên ê-sipwêhtêyân – I am happy I am departing
nimiywêyihtên ōte pē ê-takosiniyân – I am happy that I have come and arrived here
nimiywêyihtên ê-sipwêhtêyân – I am happy I have departed
takahki – really good
nimiywêyihtên ē – pē takosinin – I am happy you have arrived
nimiywêyihtên kahkiyaw ōki ki pē takosinintaw ōte – I am happy that everyone has arrived here
ē-pîkiskwâtitin anohc – I am happy to be speaking with you today
nimiywêyihtên ē-pîkiskwâtisin anohc- I am happy you are speaking to me
nitohta – listen ( command )
kipêhtawâw -do you hear that person
pasow – that person smells something
nipason – I smell something
kipason – you smell something
piminawasow – he / she cooks something
awāsisak – children ( pl )
additional conversation regarding their bead work and work in the community
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