I recently got this question on my social media and I thought I'd post my answer here for everyone to see.
Does the new book have Michif in it?
After all, we are Metis and Michif is the language of our people. Rhonda, the book's author, hails from the Lake Winnipeg area where Swampy Cree is spoken. So, as she rooted the book into her own culture, she went back to an elder who speaks Swampy Cree for help in the book.
However, Cree is very similar across the provinces and Michif derives much of it's language from Cree. My grandparents spoke Michif but they called it Cree and French. So, we see some similarities and differences in the different languages.
After all, we are Metis and Michif is the language of our people. Rhonda, the book's author, hails from the Lake Winnipeg area where Swampy Cree is spoken. So, as she rooted the book into her own culture, she went back to an elder who speaks Swampy Cree for help in the book.
However, Cree is very similar across the provinces and Michif derives much of it's language from Cree. My grandparents spoke Michif but they called it Cree and French. So, we see some similarities and differences in the different languages.
ex. bear in Michif - Mashkwa, in Cree - maskwa
squirrel in Michif - anakwacas, in Cree - anikwacas
seal in Michif - akik, in Cree - ahkik
hello in Michif - tanisi, in Cree - tansi
Some differences exist as well:
eagle in Michif - mikiso, in Cree - kihew
salmon in Michif - mistamikos, in Cree - sosasiw
I find that the languages across the great plains are all slightly different, like a spectrum. Eagle in Anishinaabemowin is migizi, perhaps where the Michif word is derived from.
I find that learning any words from the plains, including Anishinaabemowin (Ojibwe or Saulteaux) helps me when I come back to Michif. Our people traded across the plains and even lived in the same communities with each other. We spoke multiple languages and Michif is the proof!
So, 'no' this book isn't in Michif, but 'YES' there is Michif in the book.
So, 'no' this book isn't in Michif, but 'YES' there is Michif in the book.
Hope this helps answer your question!