|
|
tansi cuzzins!
Welcome to week twenty-nine of our journey into studying the Y dialect of the Cree language together!
|
|
|
You can find past lessons on the website here.
Each week, readers follow along with me as I
learn more about my language using a sacred type of alphabet called Spirit Markers (some folks call them syllabics). The Spirit Marker chart we're using is called a Star Chart, and it is below. It's oriented opposite of how "western" maps are – North goes on the bottom for us, and South is at the top.
We're finally done with the southwest branch of the Star Chart and have arrived at the North!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I have a personal affinity for this direction because I have been taught a little about the Spirit that lives in this direction and the gifts this Grandfather, kîwêtinohk, has given us. This Grandfather is one of the entities that I pray to the most.
The Spirit Marker we are looking at this week is ᐁ. Unlike other vowels, this vowel does not have a long and a short version – it is only ever pronounced one way, which is long: 'ehhhh'.
|
|
|
Sponsored by: BC First Nations Justice Council
|
 |
You’re Invited to our Engagement Sessions: Indigenous Women 2S+, MMIWG2S+ Family, Survivors, Service Providers, Community Members & Youth (Ages 12-29+)
Join us this fall in a community near you as we seek to amplify Indigenous voices regarding your communities needs and priorities. BCFNJC’s Women 2S+ and Youth justice teams are hosting a series of distinct engagement events that include a meal, community led action planning, sharing circles, and prizes!Space is limited RSVP online today.
|
|
|
Because of this, ê is the proper way to represent ᐁ in SRO.
It's a little bit confusing because ᐁ doesn't have a dot over it. Normally if a letter has a hat on it, there is a corresponding dot over the Spirit Marker, but that isn't the case here.
This is because since there's only one way to pronounce this sound, the dot isn't deemed necessary.
|
 |
|
|
This goes both ways.
I'll sometimes come across Cree words where the 'e' doesn't have its little hat on. In these cases, it's still pronounced like, 'ê', it's just that some people don't feel the need for the circumflex – it's implied, in their view, so they don't bother putting it on.
|
|
|
|
|
Now let's take a look at our Cree words for the week. We have two to look at this week! They both pertain to prayer.
The first word is ᐍᐱᓈᓱᐣ (wêpinâson), which means "cloth offering," such as the kind we use in ceremony. Cloth is one of the critical elements of ceremony. Most people who attend ceremony bring cloth as an offering or make prayer ties with cloth and bring those.
Each colour represents a different Grandfather or Grandmother Spirit, so in my experience, there is always a specific colour you're meant to bring. The leader of your ceremony will tell you what colours you need to bring and how much of each.
|
|
|
 |
The second word is ᐍᐦᑭᒫᑲᓯᑲᐣ (wêhkimâkasikan). According to my Elder, this means "to make the air smell sweet." He says this is the word for smudge.
For those who aren't familiar with smudging, it's the practice of burning sacred medicines and cleansing yourself with the smoke. It's a beautiful practice, one which this Elder instructed me to bring into my life as a ritual, twice daily.
So I do.
I see it as a form of prayer, although there's no speaking involved.
|
 |
|
|
His word for it may be specific to his community, as I've also seen the word ᐑᐦᑭᒫᐦᑲᓱᐤ (wîhkimâhkasow) used for a smudge. According to Itwewina, this means something very similar: "It smells sweet in burning."
Have you ever smelled burning sage or sweetgrass? It is such a nourishing smell. We truly have been given so many gifts.
Plants are Spirits too, so it's fitting that we would use them to pray.
I write to you today from New York, where I am taking part in a year-long program at the CUNY Craig Newmark Graduate School in Journalism. I can't wait to tell you more about the incredible week I've had here – hopefully I'm able to write about it next week.
hiy hiy!
Aunty Eden
|
|
|
 |
Eden Fineday is a nehiyaw iskwew and the publisher of IndigiNews. She is a also a mom, writer and student of nehiyawewin. She lives with gratitude as an uninvited guest on the unceded territories of the xwməθkwəy̓ əm (Musqueam), səl̓ ílwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), and Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) Peoples.
|
|
|
|
|
|
IndigiNews, 213 – 1130 Sun Peaks Road, Sun Peaks, BC V0E5N0, Canada
This email was sent to aptogo@aol.com because you signed up for the IndigiNews newsletter.
Want to change how you receive emails from IndigiNews?
Update your preferences or unsubscribe from ALL IndigiNews emails.
|
|
|
