Passion for Cree language helps keep it alive

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He proposes that street signs should read in both Cree and English. He says that his community should have a Cree library. He wants to conduct home visits to promote the importance of keeping the Cree language alive.

He is Ray G. Cardinal and he is devoting a lot of his time to a number of Cree projects in Saddle Lake Cree Nation in northeastern Alberta.

"I would like to see the people enthusiastic about the language, and I would like to also instill some pride in them about it," said Cardinal who runs Cree language classes on Tuesdays and Thursday.

As well as teaching the proper pronunciation of Cree words and phrases, Cardinal teaches Cree syllabics, a way of writing the language.

Cardinal says he speaks the language fluently, but there is still much to learn from the Elders in the community. He uses contributions from the Elders and language networks across the province in communities that run similar programs to his.

"One thing that I believe is that all Aboriginal languages are living entities and that they are a living source for us to use. Therefore, they are a part of our culture and a part of who we are as human beings, whether it is Dene, Blackfoot or Cree. All languages are a part of us. It is what makes us who we are. It identifies who we are and where we come from. That is what I tell young people. It is also very significant in preserving, not only ceremonies and rituals, but also in preserving the culture as well," he said.

Cardinal, who has his BA degree in Native Studies from the University of Alberta, is planning on going back to school to obtain a master's degree in linguistics.

"I'd like to eventually see a lot of different courses being taught in Aboriginal languages, such as social studies, science, math and drama. Theatre and media is a very powerful tool for keeping our culture alive. Music is also another form of teaching the language, and our local radio station does an hour-and-a-half Cree program, five-days a week. [It] helps, as well as local Cree singer Carl Quinn. He is doing an excellent job in creating an opportunity for the community to learn off of his music. People like and enjoy his style of music and he is an inspiration to the youth," Cardinal said.

He recalls growing up in a loving home with a lot of encouragement and believes that is why he's excelled in education.

"I only have one regret. [It] is that I went to residential school for two years, and as a result I too had to overcome some issues from my experience there. I became an alcoholic; I did a lot of heavy drinking until 1991. That is when I sobered up."

Cardinal said that he lived for a number of years down on the drag, going from city to city bumming around and drinking most of the time. But through it all he found out what alcohol did to people first hand.

"Not just for the Aboriginal people, but I also saw a lot of non-Aboriginal people down there as well. What alcohol addiction does is that it destroys all people's lives, no matter who you are, very slowly, like a slow death. I was in a relationship for five years, but it ended because of my drinking...

"I'm a family man once again, and now that I don't drink it is different. I'm now more responsible and I now take everything more responsibly," he said.

"I've learned from the Elders that you have to look at yourself in the mirror and judge yourself before you look at others and judge them. What motivates me is my grandchildren and my passion to preserve the Cree language, because that was my first language and I'm grateful that I have a strong body of support, as in chief and council and the Elders. However, I could use more support in terms of volunteer help," he said.