100 Days of Cree

by Neal McLeod

As an Elder once said, "Learn one Cree word a day for 100 days, and emerge a different person."



In 100 Days of Cree Neal McLeod offers a portal into another way of understanding the universe-and our place within it-while demonstrating why this funny, vibrant, and sometimes salacious language is "the sexiest" of them all (according to Tomson Highway).



Based on a series of Facebook posts, the 100 short chapters or "days" in the book present chains of related words, some dealing with the traditional -the buffalo hunt, the seasons-and others cheekily capturing the detritus of modern life-from internet slang to Johnny Cash songs to Viagra.



The result is both an introduction to the most widely spoken Indigenous language in Canada and an opportunity to see the world, and ourselves, in another way.

Genres: Indigenous

325 pages, Paperback

First published April 9, 2016

About the author

Neal McLeod holds a doctorate in Interdisciplinary Studies, and currently teaches Indigenous Studies at Trent University in Peterborough, Ontario. In addition to being a visual artist and entertainer, he has published a book of poetry, Songs to Kill a Wihtikow, and has another forthcoming entitled Gabriel's Beach. He is Cree and Swedish, and was born and raised in Saskatchewan.

Reviews

[Lisa]

Very very interesting. An audiobook would be an ideal companion to get the pronunciations (although a guide is given at the back). One to keep around and dip into slowly.

[Aaron White]

Just an extremely helpful, and delightful, immersion into the language and thus worldview of Cree, which is a vital language of powerful poetic description.

[Kate]

Very good. Very interesting. Beautiful. Now want to read some of Neal McLeod's poetry.

[Ginny]

This is not an introduction to Cree book. Each chapter is a list of vocabulary relating to some aspect of modern Cree life. As a reference for modern Cree speakers, especially those who are trying to work with elders who have an unfamiliarity with technology, it seems useful.

The lack of pronunciation guide is not uncommon with books of this type. Cree is fairly consistent with its pronunciation and emphasis placement, and if a good transcription has taken place then the words should be straightforward to pronounce.