Thunderchild First Nation broadcaster creates Cree words for modern world

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Other examples include radiation, or àsinī-kàkisisōt, meaning “heated rock,” and computer, or màmâtăw-apàcicìkan, meaning “amazing machine.” 

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“Every human being, no matter the education level, can understand. It doesn’t matter if you only have Grade 5 education. Even a Cree-speaking elder will say, ‘Oh, I get it.'” 

Natomagan hosts three hours of Cree-language programming each day on Thunderchild First Nation’s radio station. Working from an English news script, he translates and delivers stories live in Cree. 

“It’s as if one of my eyes, one half of my brain, is looking at the words and in a split second, the other side of my brain and my mouth is telling the story. It’s very, very, very mentally fatiguing, even after 38 years of doing this.” 

He recently secured federal funding for the station, allowing it to continue producing programming, including wellness segments and advice from elders. 

For fluent Cree speaker Jerry Okanée, hearing the language on local radio is an important way to keep it alive for younger generations. 

“It is very encouraging to hear the Cree language,” Okanée said. “That is really motivating for younger people to grasp their language. It’s part of what we are.” 

He said radio is one part of a broader effort to preserve and expand Cree, particularly as new technology creates the need for new words and expressions. 

“I hear a lot of that from the community, that they want to listen to the radio because of Vince and the programming he brings about,” he said. 

The community response gives Natomagan hope, even as he worries there are few fluent Cree-speaking radio broadcasters left in the region. 

“Nobody will be as proficient as I am, but at least we can try going forward. Maybe they’ll want to learn Cree. Maybe when they’re sitting on the radio playing their music and speaking Cree, they might be inspired to say, ‘I’m going to learn all of it.'” 

For Natomagan, creating new words and sharing them on the air is about more than keeping up with modern technology. It is about ensuring the Cree language continues to be spoken, understood and passed on to future generations. 

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Alyssa.rudolph@pattisonmedia.com