Language Revitalization
Indigenous languages connect us to the land.
To honour our steering committee members and acknowledge their Indigenous language, we worked with various Indigenous language speakers to translate the kihci-okāwīmāw askiy Knowledge Centre vision statement into the languages spoken in their nations. We also included the Indigenous languages spoken in Treaty Territories 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, and the Homelands of the Métis, in Saskatchewan.
The Saskatchewan Indigenous Cultural Centre recognizes that each First Nation language is living, dynamic, and deeply connected to the land, history, and knowledge systems of its people. While every effort has been made to faithfully convey the meaning and spirit of the original English text, translations are grounded in the knowledge and guidance of respected language speakers and experts.
We acknowledge that Indigenous languages carry local and regional expressions, terminology, and cultural nuances. Variations may exist across dialects and Nations, and other fluent speakers may express concepts differently in ways that reflect their own community’s teachings and linguistic traditions.
These translations are offered with respect for the diversity and vitality of each language and in recognition that language authority ultimately rests with the communities and speakers themselves.
(Saskatchewan Indigenous Cultural Centre, 2026)
Our Vision
What We Learned About Translation and Language Revitalization
This initiative has provided us with an opportunity to learn from language educators about some of the important aspects about language revitalization:
- There are regional variations of the languages, including the spelling of words and which words are used.
- More than one language educator has encouraged learners to focus more on learning pronunciation and less on spelling. This leads to the possibility that some fluent language spellers do not spell words the way others do or have as much experience in writing in their language.
- There are variations to macrons and symbols used in Indigenous languages. For example, our centre name has been updated from kihci-okâwîmâw askiy Knowledge Centre to kihci-okāwīmāw askiy Knowledge Centre based on advice and guidance from cultural advisor, Leo Yahyahkeekoot who stated that the former macrons have a French influence, called the circumflex (^).
- The Saskatchewan Indigenous Cultural Centre and the Provincial Library and Literacy Office have an expansive collection of language resources available for the public to borrow.
Translations
Dëne Sųłıné - The Dene language
enę nįh neyųɂązį nátser, net’á hída, eyer hot’á, nunį enę nįh bek’ésídli.
Northern Michif - The language of the Métis people
Kihci mâmâ askî kimîkonaw pimât’sowin, mâka poko ta piskîmâya mîna ta manâcihâya.
Nakawēmowin - The Saulteaux language
Manitō kā-mīnank pimātišiwin nēyāp oncitako kihci-inēntamank. (Great spirit gave us life in return we honor/think highly of him/her).
nīhithawīwin - The Woodland Cree language (th dialect)
kihci okāwimā askiy mīkīw pimātisiwin; kāwi tipithaw nākatīthihcikīwin kita kī – mīthayahk.
nēhinawēwin - The Swampy Cree language (n dialect)
kiminikonow pimatisowin kici okawimawaski, kawi ka kistenitenanaw ka issa minikawiyak.
Lakȟótiyapi - The Lakota language
wounsila mani po/pe (live your life with compassion/kindness to all things). Lakota s’e opiic’iya pe/po (conduct yourself as Lakota. This encompasses all thoughts of respect for the earth and life itself).
Dakod iapi - The Dakota language
Anpeto kedi unci maka kide unkonpi. Heca, unwayaki ish unwaki unkumpi kte.
Nakoda/Nakota
The translation will be posted here in the future.