The original texts of these Cree wisdoms, presented here in Western letters, have been sourced from the permanent exhibit at Wanuskewin Heritage Park. They are shared with the intention of honoring and preserving the rich heritage and wisdom of the Cree people. The syllabics and English translations have been added to further enhance understanding and appreciation.
ᓀᐦᐃᔭᐤ ᑮᓯᑳᐤ
Nēhiyaw kīsikāw
Cree Wisdom
ᑖᐳᐘᑫᔨᐦᑕᒧᐏᐣ
ᐱᑯ ᑲᑖᐳᕽᑫᔨᒥᑐᔭᕽ ᐁᑿ ᑲᒪᒥᓯᑐᑖᑐᔭᕽ, ᑲᑕᐳᐘᑫᔨᒫᔭᕽ ᐁᒪᒪᑖᐏᓯᐟ, ᐁᑳᑮᓯᒨᐘᔭᕽ ᐁᑿ ᐁᒥᔭᑯᔭᕽ ᓱᐦᑭᓯᐏᐣ ᑲᒥᔭᐊᔨᓯᔨᓂᐏᔭᕽ᙮
ᑳᐦᔭᒥᐦᓓᐚᑎᓯᔭᕽ, ᐁᐚᑯ ᐱᑯ ᑲᐱᒧᐦᑖᑕᒪᕽ ᑕᐦᑐᑮᓯᑳᐤ᙮ ᓇᒧᔭ ᑌᐱᔮ ᐋᐢᑳᐤ, ᒫᑲ ᑕᐦᑐᑮᓯᑳᐤ᙮
ᓇᒧᔭ ᑌᐱᔮ ᐯᔭᐠ ᐊᔭᒥᐦᓓᐏᑮᓯᑳᐤ; ᑭᐱᒪᑎᓯᐏᐣ ᐊᓂᒪ᙮
tāpowakēyihtamowin
piko katāpohkeyimitoyahk ēkwa kamamisītotātoyahk, katapowakēyimāyahk emamātāwisit, ēkākīsimōstawāyahk ēkwa ēmiyikoyahk sōhkisiwin
ka-miyo-ayisiyinīwiyahk.
kāhayamihēwātisiyahk, ewāko piko kapimohtātamahk tahtokīsikāw. namoya tēpiyā āskāw, māka tahto-kīsikāw.
namoya tēpiyā pēyak ayamihēwikīsikāw; kipimātisiwin anima.
Wisdom
The knowledge of how to make a good decision is not only about thinking and planning for the future, but also about understanding your emotions, recognizing and respecting your intuition, and having the strength to follow what you know is right.
It involves being mindful, but also daring to dream big. It’s not just about today, but about the future.
It’s not just about one success story; it’s about life itself.
ᑲᓇᑌᔨᒧᐏᐣ
ᐊᓄᐦᐨ ᑳᒫᒥᐢᑯᐦᑕᒪᕽ ᑳᓇᑕᐦᒐᐦᑯᐏᐣ, ᒥᐦᒉᐟ ᐊᔨᓯᔨᓂᐤ ᐃᑌᔨᐦᑕᒼ ᑳᓇᑎᓯᐏᐣ, ᐁᑿ ᑖᐻ ᐁᐚᑯ ᐃᐢᐱᐦᑌᔨᐦᑖᑿᐣ᙮
ᒫᑲ ᐯᐦᒋᓈᐘᔭᐟ, ᑫᐦᑌᐊᔭ ᑳᒫᒥᐢᑯᐦᑕᕽᐦᑭᑲᓂᐢᑎᐏᐣ, ᐁᐚᑯ ᐊᓂᒪ ᑲᓇᑕᐦᒐᐦᑯᐏᐣ᙮
ᑲᓇᒋᒫᒥᑐᓀᔨᐦᒋᑫᐏᐣ ᐁᐦᐅᐦᒋᒫᑲᐦᐠ ᑲᓇᒋᒫᒥᑐᓀᔨᐦᒋᑭᓂᕽ ᐁᐚᑯ ᐆᒪ ᐅᐦᒋ ᑭᑲᓇᑕᐦᒐᐦᑯᒥᓇᐤ᙮ ᑲᓇᒋᒫᒥᑐᓀᔨᐦᑕᒧᐏᐣ ᐁᑿᐯᔮᐦᑕᑫᔨᒧᐏᐣ ᑭᓇᑲᑌᔨᐦᑌᓇᐤ ᐁᑲ ᑯᑕᐠ ᑲᐋᐦᑯᓯᐦᐋᔭᕽ᙮
ᑖᐱᑕᐏ ᒥᔪᒪᐦᒋᐦᐅᐏᐣ ᑭᐏᒋᐦᐃᑯᓇᐤ ᑫᓯᒥᔪᒪᒥᑐᓀᔨᐦᑕᒪᕽ᙮
kanātēyimowin
anohc kāmāmiskohtamahk kānātahcāhkowin, mihcēt ayisiyiniw itēyihtam kānātisiwin, ēkwa tāpwē ēwako ispihtēyihtākwan.
māka pēhci-nāway, kehtē-aya kāmāmiskohtahkik kanātisiwin, ēwako anima kanatahcahkowin.
kanācimāmitonēyihcikewin ehohcīmakahk kanācimāmitonēyihcikanihk ēwako ōma ohci kikanātahcahkominaw. kanācimāmitonēyihtamowin ekwa pēyāhtakēyimowin kinakatēyihtenaw buēka kotak ka-āhkosīhāyahk.
täpitawi miyomahcihowin kiwīcihikonaw kesimiyomāmitonēyihtamahk.
Understanding
Today, we engage in deep thinking and understanding, considering both our hearts and our minds, seeking the wisdom that comes from true knowledge.
But we must also remember, our journey of learning is continuous, integrating the wisdom of the past with our present experiences.
Embracing this wisdom, we should walk in life with respect and understanding, recognizing the interconnectedness of all things and honoring the shared journey of existence.
Striving for holistic well-being and harmony through shared understanding and respect is a journey that requires continuous effort and commitment.
ᒪᒫᑖᐏᓯᐏᐣ
ᓇᒧᔭ ᑳᒫᒥᐢᑯᐦᑕᒪᕽ ᒪᐢᑲᐏᓯᐏᐣ, ᒫᑲ ᒪᒫᑖᐏᓯᐏᐣ᙮
ᑳᑮ ᐃᓯ ᒥᔪᑯᐅᓯᔭᕽ ᑳᐦᐅᐢᑳᔨᐏᔭᕽ ᑳᐦᐄᐧᓂᓯᐦᓯᐅᔭᕽ᙮
ᐱᑯ ᑲᐸᐯᔮᐦᑕᑫᔨᒧᔭᕽ ᑲᐦᐋᔨᒪᐠ ᑭᐱᒫᑎᓯᐏᓂᓇᐤ ᐁᑿ ᐁᑳ ᑲᐏᔭᐅᐦᑕᒪᕽ, ᒫᑲ ᑲᓂᐸᐏᐢᑕᒪᕽ ᐁᑿ ᑲᓄᐦᑰᑖᔭᕽ ᓂᓯᑐᐦᑕᒧᐏᐣ᙮
ᐱᑯ ᑲᐦᐋᕽᒫᔨᐦᑕᒪᕽ ᑯᐦᒋᐦᐃᑯᓯᐏᓇ ᐁᑿ ᐍᐢᐱᓇᐠ ᐃᐢᐸᔨᑭ ᐁᑯᑕ ᑲᐦᑮᐏᒋᐦᐋᓇᐘᐠ ᑯᑕᑲᐠ ᑲᓱᐦᑫᔨᐦᑕᐦᑭᐠ ᑯᐦᒋᐦᐃᑯᓯᐘᐏ ᐁᑿ ᐍᐢᐱᓇᐠ ᐃᐢᐸᔨᑯᑖᐏ᙮
mamātāwisiwin
namoya kāmāmiskohtamahk maskawisīwin, māka mamātāwisiwin.
kākī-isi-miyikowisiyahk kāhoskāyiwiyahk kāhiyiwanisihisoyahk.
piko kapapēyāhtakēyimoyahk kahāyimak kipimätisiwininaw ekwa ēkā kawiyohtamahk, māka kanīpawīstamahk ekwa kanōhkōhtāyahk nisitohtamowin.
piko kahāhkamēyihtamahk kohcihikosiwina ēkwa wēspinac ispayiki ekota kahkīwīcihānawak kotakak kasōhkeyihtahkik kohcihikositwāwi ēkwa wēspinac ispayikotwāwi.
mamātāwisiwin *
Today, we practice physical strength, but also mamātāwisiwin.
We achieve this through a balance of clear thinking, emotional intelligence, and strong will.
It’s about more than just making decisions for immediate success; it involves long-term planning and understanding the impact of our actions.
This wisdom includes not only knowing what is right but also applying it in a way that brings harmony and balance to our community and ourselves.
* “Mamātāwisiwin” refers to a holistic sense of strength that includes mental, emotional, and spiritual resilience and well-being.