New app teaches Cree in York Factory

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This article was published 28/11/2024 (337 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A new Cree language learning app hit the market this month to give young adults from York Factory First Nation a user-friendly way to reconnect with their language and heritage.

“We wanted to focus on language revitalization, especially for the younger generation,” said Louisa Constant, a York Factory councillor.

About two years ago, the First Nation and HTFC Planning & Design, who have had a close working relationship for the past two decades, started to discuss plans to create an app designed specifically for York Factory, to create a resource to learn Cree.

A year ago, York Factory approached Vincent Design, an Indigenous-led design and marketing company, to put the plan into action.

Collaboration between the three groups has resulted in the development of Inineemowin: York Factory Cree.

“What’s neat about the collaboration is that not one of these parties could have pulled this off alone,” said Eleanor Bonny, one of the three principals of HTFC Design & Planning.

Even if the goal isn’t to be fluent, every phrase or word learned provides something about the culture, explained Bonny.

“It’s a gateway for language revitalization.”

Inineemowin, which is available on the App Store and Google Play, centres around an interactive map of the First Nation by highlighting landmarks with their Cree names. Once selected, a pop-up appears with the Cree spelling, English meaning, and additional information.

The app consists of more than 400 words in the local dialect and an interactive syllabic chart.

Under the “stories” section of the map, audio recordings from elders in the community, share stories about the importance and history of the Cree language.

Inineemowin’s “learning map” has eight modules that introduce basic grammar and phrases that focus on cultural traditions, such as spring goose camp, winter carnival and sewing.

“We wanted to incorporate all these things that are actually right there in the community,” said Jordan Dysart, lead software developer at Vincent Design.

As soon as a user launched the app, they are introduced to the community, he said.

“We wanted it to be fun enough for young people, cool enough for anyone, and easy enough for the older generation,” said Jon Denby, senior designer.

Shaun Vincent, founder and creative director at Vincent Design, says the process of creating and designing the app was a special experience for him.

“Talking to the elders was like talking to my own elders,” said Vincent. “We laughed and joked a lot.”

Dysart explained the goal of the app is language revitalization, and with that comes discovery.

“Having people rediscover their language and then other people discovering it for the first time is huge.”

Bonny, with a similar take, said if someone from Winnipeg from a non-Indigenous heritage pokes around the app and learns a few words, it builds more awareness.

The First Nation, which is 175 kilometres northeast of Thompson and had 455 residents as of the 2021 census, said Heritage Canada provided funding for the first phase of the app.

The government earmarked $282,000 over two years, as a part of a larger language project that included changing signage and bringing Cree into classrooms.

On its website, the federal government department says it supports the efforts of Indigenous people “to reclaim, revitalize, maintain and strengthen Indigenous languages and cultures.”

Constant said the team plans to continue to advance the app by adding words and lessons, along with community engagement events where people can learn more about the app and how to use it.

city.desk@freepress.mb.ca