Cree Legends and Narratives from the West Coast of James Bay

Overview

This is the first major body of annotated texts in James Bay Cree, and a unique documentation of Swampy and Moose Cree (Western James Bay) usage of the 1950s and 1960s. Conversations and interviews with 16 different speakers include: legends, reminiscences, historical narratives, stories and conversations, as well as descriptions of technology. The book includes a detailed pronunciation guide, notes on Cree terms, informants' comments, dialect variations, and descriptions of cultural values and customs. The introduction describes and compares the various genres in traditional and popular culture. Cree and English, with full glosssary.

Reviews

About the Authors

Table of Contents

Introduction

I Legends and Narratives: Swampy Cree

SIMEON SCOTT
tante ka-ohciwakopane nistam-ininiwak
Where the first people came from
2 SIMEON SCOTT
mawaci-oskac e-takosinowakopane ininiwak ota askihk
The arrival of people here on earth at the very beginning
3 SIMEON SCOTT
cahkapes ka-isi-nakwatat pisimwa
How Chahkabesh snared the sun
4 SIMEON SCOTT
cahkapes ka-ki-kohcipanihikot misi-kinosewa
Chahkabesh is swallowed by the giant fish
5 SIMEON SCOTT
cahkapes nesta maka maskwak
Chahkabesh and the bears
6 SIMEON SCOTT
cahkapes ka-ki-ocipitikot tipiski-pisimwa
Chahkabesh is drawn up by the moon
7 SIMEON SCOTT
wisakecahk e-atanohkasot ka-ki-niskipotenik omeniw askiniw
The legend of Weesakechahk and the flood
8 SIMEON SCOTT
wisakecahk ka-itacimikisot nesta pinesiwak ka-papamihnacik
Weesakechahk and the birds who flew south
9 SIMEON SCOTT
atanohkan weskac, peyak kise-'iniw e-itatanohkasot okosisa ayas ka-isinihkason'ci
The legend of Ayas
10 SIMEON SCOTT
mistakanas ka-ki-nipikopane, eko maka ka-ki-waniskakopane
Mistaganash who is supposed to have died and then to have risen
11 SIMEON SCOTT
memisos ka-mitehkekopane
Memishoosh the conjuror
12 SIMEON SCOTT
wihtikowak
The windigoes
13 XAVIER SUTHERLAND
cahkapes ka-natokaminat mistamiskwa
Chahkabesh reaches for the giant beaver
14 XAVIER SUTHERLAND
cahkapes nesta maka mistapeskwewak
Chahkabesh and the giant women
15 XAVIER SUTHERLAND
cahkapes ka-nakwatakopane pisimwa
Chahkabesh snares the sun
16 XAVIER SUTHERLAND
cahkapes ka-ki-kohcipanihikot mistamesa
Chahkabesh is swallowed by the giant fish
17 XAVIER SUTHERLAND
cahkapes ka-ocipitikot pisimwa
Chahkabesh is drawn up by the moon
18 XAVIER SUTHERLAND
wisakecahk ka-pimiwatekopane onikamowiniwat
Weesakechahk carries around his song bag
19 XAVIER SUTHERLAND
wisakecahk ka-wayesihakopane maskwa
Weesakechahk tricks the bear
20 XAVIER SUTHERLAND
wisakecahk wehwewa ka-wici-pimihnamakopane
Weesakechahk flies south with the waveys
21 XAVIER SUTHERLAND
n§.pew ka-ki-kitamokokopane waposwa
The man who was devoured by rabbits
22 XAVIER SUTHERLAND
napew ka-ki-m~omikot sakimewa
The man who was bitten by mosquitoes
23 XAVIER SUTHERLAND
napew ka-ki-wepiskatat kona
The man who kicked away the snow
24 XAVIER SUTHERLAND
tipacimowin awahkanak ohci
About animals kept as pets
25 XAVIER SUTHERLAND
nikik e-itacimikosit
A story about an otter
26 XAVIER SUTHERLAND
oko wina okasakaskiwesiwak
About hawks

II Legends and Narratives: Kashechewan Cree

27 ISAIAH SUTHERLAND
wisakecahk ka-wayesihakopane maskwa
Weesakechahk tricks the bear
28 ISAIAH SUTHERLAND
wisakecahk e-osihat ke-kakike-pimatisinici ililiwa
Weesakechahk creates an immortal
29 ISAIAH SUTHERLAND
cahkapes ka-kohcipalihikot mistamesa
Chahkabesh is swallowed by the giant fish
30 JOHN WYNNE
tante ka-ohci-wihcikatekopane cipayi-sipiy
How Ghost River got its name
31 JOHN WYNNE
niso ililiwak e-nakiskawacik wapaskwa
Two men meet a polar bear
32 JOHN WYNNE
e-pasikwatahk kiwetinohk
A northern blizzard
33 JOHN WYNNE
atimwak e-kotaskatitocik
A dog-team race
34 JOEL LINKLATER
e-'natawimoswaniwahk kwetipawahikani-sipihk
Moose-hunting on the Kwetabohigan River
35 JOEL LINKLATER
e-ahkwatahkwacit mos' -wayanihk
Stuck frozen in a moose-hide
36 JOEL LINKLATER
ayakwamisitotaw mos!
Beware of the moose!
37 JOEL LINKLATER
e-wanisininaniwahk nohcimihk
Lost in the bush
38 JOEL LINKLATER
e-ki-kiwe-miskahk ka-ki-wanitaspan opaskisikan
Retrieval of a lost rifle
39 SILAS WESLEY
sawanohk e-isi-apatisinaniwahk
A job outside
40 HANNAH WYNNE
peyakwa weskac
The old days
41 GABRIEL KIOKEE & JOEL LINKLATER
ayamihitowin [I]
A conversation [I]
42 GABRIEL KIOKEE & JOEL LINKLATER
ayamihitowin [II]
A conversation [II]
43 GABRIEL KIOKEE & TWO FAMILY GUESTS
ayamihitowin [Ill]
A conversation [III]

III Legends and Narratives: Moose Cree

ANDREW FARIES
nistam ka-papalik ka-pimihlamakahk mosoniwi-ministikohk
The first airplane comes to Moose Factory
45 GILBERT FARIES
wacask wehci-isinakwanilik osow
How the muskrat got his long, tapered tail
46 GILBERT FARIES
acicamos wehci-mihkwacapit
Why the squirrel has red eyes
47 GILBERT FARIES
mwakwa wehc'-isinakwaniliki osita
Why the loon's feet are near the tail
48 GILBERT FARIES
maskwa wehci-tahkwaliwet
Why the bear has a short tail
49 GILBERT FARIES
weskac mosoniwi-ministikohk
The old days at Moose Factory
50 SOPHIE GUNNER
e-osihakaniwit moso-wayan
Tanning moose-hide
51 SOPHIE GUNNER
askiy ka-apacihtaniwahk e-tahkopitawasonaniwahk
The preparation of moss for babies' diapers
52 SOPHIE GUNNER
e-osihakaniwit wapos'-wayan
Making rabbit-skin blankets
53 SOPHIE GUNNER
e-osihtaniwahk askimaniyapiy
Making babiche for snow-shoes
54 SOPHIE GUNNER
atihkamek owahkona e-kisisomihci
A favourite dish from whitefish roe
55 SOPHIE GUNNER
wisahkwecahk nesta maka pilesiwak, nesta wehci-omikiwicik mistikwak
Weesahkwechahk and the birds, and why the trees have scabs
56 SOPHIE GUNNER
cahkapes nesta maka mistapeskwewak
Chahkabesh and the giant women
57 SOPHIE GUNNER & JAMES GUNNER
ayamihitowinisis: n'tahikatekwe nestapiko eka?
Snatch of a conversation: to go up-river or not?
58 WILLIE FRENCHMAN
e-isilawinaniwahk e-oskinikinaniwahkipan
Stories of youthful exploits
59 WILLIE FRENCHMAN
weskac e-isi-pimatisinaniwahk
Life in the old days
60 WILLIE FRENCHMAN
e-nipahihcik ililiwak, e-mowihcik maka
People killed and eaten
61 WILLIE FRENCHMAN
kotakiya kekwana ka-ki-tocikatekwapan
More early activities
62 WILLIE FRENCHMAN
e-waskwayi-cimanihkaniwahk
Making birch bark canoes
63 HANNAH LOON
miscakalas ka-ki-nipikopane, eko maka ka-ki-waniskakopane
Mischagalash who is supposed to have died and then to have risen
64 HANNAH LOON
pakwacililiw
The Bushman
65 HANNAH LOON
mekwac e-awasisiwiyapan
Childhood memories
66 HANNAH LOON
e-masihitocik wiskacanis nesta maka wapikosis
A fight between a whiskey-jack and a mouse
67 HANNAH LOON & ELLEN MCLEOD
ayamihitowin
A conversation
68 JOHN CARPENTER
wehci-ki-siwakamihk winipek
Why the water in James Bay is salt

Appendices
Editorial Conventions
Notes
Glossary