Description
Using Vince Ahenakew’s dictionary, Nêhiyawêwin Masinahikan: Michif*/Cree Dictionary, as a starting point, Norman Fleury undertook the enormous task of translating nearly 11,500 words into Michif-Cree, perhaps the oldest and first Michif language. Michif-Cree is differentiated from Île-à-la Crosse Michif because it uses a great deal more French (nouns and noun phrases) and has a Plains Cree base (verb and verb phrases) rather than a Woods Cree base. Once that was completed, each word was then narrated so each word’s pronunciation could be heard on the website created to host the dictionary, http://www.metismuseum.ca/michif_dictionary.php. The dictionary is also available for Android-enabled devices through the Google Play Store at: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.emap.michif&hl=en.
The dictionary was created to bank individual words and is useful for looking up specific Michif-Cree words. The phrases section has been created to demonstrate how the language is used and how its syntax is structured. Audio for this section was also recorded and is available online. The majority of the phrases are useful for every-day communication. Other sentences were banked to show Michif-Cree’s structure.
The Gabriel Dumont Institute is continuing to work with Michif specialists to promote and preserve the Michif languages, and additional resources will be released in the future.
