Language Centre Resources

Cree, a group of closely related Algonquian languages spoken by about 60,000 people in Canada from Alberta to Labrador (especially in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta). Cree features a complex polysynthetic morphology and syntax (e.g. words can be very long and express the meaning of a number of words in English).

The Cree dialect continuum can be divided by several criteria. One definition recognizes the following major varieties:

• Central Cree (dialects include: Moose Cree, and Swampy Cree) - 4,500 speakers
• Coastal Eastern Cree - about 5,000 people in Quebec on the east coast of James bay
• Inland Eastern Cree - about 2,200 speakers in Quebec
• Western Cree - 35,000 speakers in the USA and in north central Manitoba and Saskatchewan, Canada (dialects include: Woods Cree, Plains Cree, Western Swampy Cree)

Some other classifications identify 9 broad Cree dialect groups: Plains Cree, Woods Cree, Swampy Cree, Moose Cree, James Bay Cree, Atikamekw, Western Montagnais, Eastern Montagnais, Naskapi.

CLASSIFICATION = Algonquian languages, SCRIPT = Cree dialects, except for those spoken in eastern Quebec and Labrador, are traditionally written using Cree syllabics, a variant of Canadian Aboriginal Syllabics, but can be written in Roman alphabet as well. The easternmost dialects are written in Roman alphabet exclusively.

Courses
Mâci-nêhiyawêwin (Beginning Cree)	CREE CBEG 1
Grammars
Cree : language of the plains (Nēhiyawēwin : paskwāwi-pīkiskwēwin)	CREE GRAM 1
Vocabulary
100 days of Cree	CREE VOCAB 3
Cree, book lll : inanimate and animate words	CREE VOCAB 1
Pêyesêsak = Birds in Cree	CREE VOCAB 2