Projects Summaries

The Cree LivingLanguage Encyclopedia Project (2004-2007) expands the original eastcree.org creation project. It is a collaborative effort involving James Bay Cree people in the creation of an on-line Cree Encyclopedic Dictionary and involving other Cree and Innu people in the creation of a Mutimedia Linguistic Atlas of the Cree languages and dialects. [ PDF Summary ]

Principal Investigator: Prof. Marie-Odile Junker, Carleton University

Co-investigator: Prof. Marguerite MacKenzie, Memorial University

Partners: Cree Programs/Curriculum, Cree School Board

Partners for the Atlas only: Institut Educatif Culturel Montagnais (ICEM);

Innu Education Authority (Innu Nation);

Lac La Ronge Indian Band (Gift of Language and Culture)

Saskeweskam Learning Centre (Onion Lake)

The Interactive Cree Language Project (2001-2004) was a collaborative effort between Cree Programs, of the Cree School Board and Carleton University linguist, Prof. Marie-Odile Junker. The goal was to involve more speakers and Cree youth in documenting the Cree language. By using the many tools offered by the Internet, the process of documenting the language becomes a vehicle for its maintenance and vitality. Other collaborators and advisors on the project were Dr. Marguerite MacKenzie, Memorial University, Bill Jancewicz, an expert in syllabic fonts, and Cree linguists Luci Salt and Louise Blacksmith. (For a complete list of people involved see Credits.) More generally, the project investigates how to drive the development of new technologies in culturally appropriate ways.

The eastcree.org web site is tri-lingual: Cree, English and French. One of its goals is to promote Cree language survival. In addition to researching the Cree language, these projects also includes technical research for putting syllabic fonts and sound files on the web, in discussion groups and in relational databases. Every year several Cree students selected by the School Board are offered work-training opportunities on the project . (see Credits , and contact Cree Programs if you want to apply).

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Funding Sources

• Social Science and Humanities Research Council grant (SSHRC- Aboriginal Initiative) awarded to Prof. Marie-Odile Junker, Carleton University and Prof. Marguerite MacKenzie, Memorial University: 2004-2007.
• Social Science and Humanities Research Council grant (SSHRC- Research Development Initiative) awarded to Prof. Marie-Odile Junker: 2001-2004.
• Cree Programs/Cree Curriculum, Cree School Board.