In honour of National Indigenous Languages Day 2024, Solomon Ratt has shared this new reflection of gratitude for his own Indigenous language, complete with original artwork. For us, the Cree language is truly a gift, and for that, we are grateful to it, too: nîstanân mîna ninanâskomânân.
nitiyini-pîkiskwêwin.
kiminahin ispî kâ-nôhtêyâpâkwêyân;
kitasamin ispî kâ-nôhtêhkatêyân;
kikâh-kâkîcihin ispî kâ-pîkiskâtikoyân,
kisâh-sîhkimin ispî kâ-pômêyan.
kinanâskomitin.
ᓂᑎᔨᓂ ᐲᑭᐢᑵᐏᐣ᙮
ᑭᒥᓇᐦᐃᐣ ᐃᐢᐲ ᑳ ᓅᐦᑌᔮᐹᑵᔮᐣ;
ᑭᑕᓴᒥᐣ ᐃᐢᐲ ᑳ ᓅᐦᑌᐦᑲᑌᔮᐣ;
ᑭᑳᐦ ᑳᑮᒋᐦᐃᐣ ᐃᐢᐲ ᑳ ᐲᑭᐢᑳᑎᑯᔮᐣ,
ᑭᓵᐦ ᓰᐦᑭᒥᐣ ᐃᐢᐲ ᑳ ᐴᒣᔭᐣ᙮
ᑭᓇᓈᐢᑯᒥᑎᐣ᙮
My indigenous language:
You give me drink when I thirst;
You give me food when I hunger;
You give me solace when I am sad;
You encourage me when I am discouraged;
Thank you.