Language, held lightly
Words in the hearth
Plains Cree hints follow the standard roman used by itwêwina, where a letter c sounds like ts. Ojibwe words use the double-vowel system: a doubled vowel is held longer. Algonquin spellings follow forms publicly used by Kichi Sìbì communities. None of this is a speaker. The voice button only reads the English hint.
Cree
Wîsahkêcâhk
wee-sah-KAY-chahk
The transformer and trickster in Cree tellings. Hungry, clever, and often wrong.
Many communities tell his stories only in winter. Plains Cree spelling.
Cree
wacask
WUH-tsusk
Muskrat.
In standard Cree roman, c sounds like ts.
Cree
askiy
US-kee
Earth, land, the ground under you. The name of this hearth.
Cree
amisk
AH-misk
Beaver.
Cree
niska
NIS-kah
Goose.
Cree
maskwa
MUS-kwah
Bear.
Cree
nêhiyaw
nay-HEE-yow
A Cree person. nêhiyawak is the people.
Cree
tânisi
tah-NIH-sih
Hello. Also, how are you.
Cree
kinanâskomitin
kih-nah-NAH-sko-mih-tin
I am grateful to you.
Ojibway
Nanabozho
nah-nah-BOH-zho
The Anishinaabe transformer. A relative of Wîsahkêcâhk, not a copy.
Also heard as Nanabush or Wenabozho, depending on the community.
Ojibway
wazhashk
wah-ZHUSHK
Muskrat.
Ojibway
mikinaak
mih-kih-NAHK
Turtle. In the teaching of truth, the one who carries the others.
Ojibway
Asibikaashi
ah-sih-bih-KAH-shee
Spider Woman, who watched over the children.
Ojibway
bawaajige nagwaagan
buh-WAH-zhih-gay nah-GWAH-gun
A dream snare. The hoop grandmothers wove for an infant's sleep.
An Ojibwe teaching, not a symbol for every Indigenous nation.
Ojibway
amik
AH-mik
Beaver. Carries the teaching of wisdom.
Ojibway
migizi
mih-GIH-zih
Eagle. Carries the teaching of love.
Ojibway
mashkode-bizhiki
mush-KOH-day bih-ZHIH-kih
Buffalo. Carries the teaching of respect.
Ojibway
makwa
MUH-kwuh
Bear. Carries the teaching of bravery.
Ojibway
ma'iingan
mah-EEN-gun
Wolf. Carries the teaching of humility.
Ojibway
Sabe
SAH-bay
The tall being of the woods. In many classrooms, carries honesty.
Some teachers give honesty to the raven instead. If a community says otherwise, follow them.
Ojibway
Anishinaabe
ah-nish-ih-NAH-beh
The person; Ojibwe and related peoples. Anishinaabeg is the people.
Ojibway
miigwech
MEEG-wetch
Thank you.
Ojibway
aadizookaan
ah-dih-ZOO-kahn
A sacred story. In many communities, told when snow is on the ground.
Ojibway
boozhoo
BOO-zhoo
Hello.
Ojibway
nibwaakaawin
nih-bwah-KAH-win
Wisdom. To use what you were given so others can live.
Ojibway
zaagi'idiwin
zah-gee-IH-dih-win
Love. To know love is to know peace.
Ojibway
minaadendamowin
mih-nah-den-duh-MOH-win
Respect. To honour all of creation.
Ojibway
aakode'ewin
ah-koh-DAY-win
Bravery. To face what is in front of you with integrity.
Ojibway
gwayakwaadiziwin
gway-uh-kwah-DIH-zih-win
Honesty. To accept who you were made to be.
Ojibway
dabaadendiziwin
duh-bah-den-DIH-zih-win
Humility. To know you are sacred, and not above anyone.
Ojibway
debwewin
day-BWAY-win
Truth. To be true in your words and in the way you walk.
Algonquin
Kichi Sìbì
KIH-chee SEE-bee
The great river. The Ottawa River, in the older name.
Algonquin
Kichi Manidò
KIH-chee muh-nih-DOH
Great Spirit. Not a person, and not a body to draw.
Algonquin
Mino Pimàdiziwin
MIH-noh pih-MAH-dih-zih-win
The good life, lived in a good way.
Spelling follows writing publicly shared by Kichi Sìbì communities.
Algonquin
Wìsakedjàk
wee-sah-KAY-jahk
The Algonquin name of the transformer. A relative of Nanabozho and Wîsahkêcâhk.
Winter stories in many lodges.
Algonquin
Omàmiwinini
oh-MAH-mih-wih-nih-nih
An Algonquin person. Omàmiwininiwak is the people.
Algonquin
kwey
kway
Hello.
Algonquin
mìgwech
MEEG-wetch
Thank you.
Cree
tânisi
tah-NIH-sih · hello
kinanâskomitin
kih-nah-NAH-sko-mih-tin · thank you
The Cree nations cover a vast homeland, from the parklands to the boreal and James Bay. These tellings lean on Plains Cree names for Wîsahkêcâhk. Other Cree dialects use their own.
Ojibway
boozhoo
BOO-zhoo · hello
miigwech
MEEG-wetch · thank you
Ojibway is an English name. Many people say Anishinaabe, and the language Anishinaabemowin. Words here use the double-vowel spelling common in dictionaries and classrooms.
Algonquin
kwey
kway · hello
mìgwech
MEEG-wetch · thank you
The Omàmiwininiwak are people of the Kichi Sìbì — the river the English renamed the Ottawa — and the waters that feed it. Algonquin is a relative of Ojibwe, not a footnote to it.