Cree Literature

Cree Nations

Only after the last tree has been cut down
Only after the last river has been poisoned
Only after the last fish has been caught
Then will you find that money cannot be eaten.

Cree Prophecy

Stories

Why the Weasel Is Nervous

Stories of the Chapleau Cree

Swampy Cree Stories
Audio Versions in Cree and in English

Cree Stories Collected by Snow Snake

A really good book on Cree, and one which points out the dialect differences as well, is "SPOKEN CREE", published by Pica Pica Press out of the University of Alberta Press. There is also an extensive audiotape collection that is available with it. First published in 1962, it is based on the Cree of James Bay, Canada.

Cree Indians

Cree Culture

Cree Images

Stories


Cree Creation Story

When light first came to the earth, O-ma-ma-ma the earth mother of the Cree people gave birth to the spirits of the world. The first born was Binay-sih, the thunderbird who protects the animals from the sea serpent, Genay-big. Thunderbirds shout out their unhappiness or anger with black clouds, rain and fire flashes in the sky. The second born was Ina-kaki, the lowly frog who heightens the sorcerer's powers and helps to control the insects in the world. The third born was the trickster Wee-sa-hay-jac, who can change himself into many forms or shapes to protect himself. The fourth child was Ma-heegun, Wee-sa-hay-jac's little wolf brother. They travel together with Wee-sa-hay-jac on his back. The fifth born was Amik the beaver, who is greatly respected because he is an unfortunate human from a different world. Fish, rocks, grasses, and trees all came from the womb of the great earth mother O-ma-ma-ma. The earth was inhabited a long time by only animals and spirits because Wee-sa-hay-jac had not yet made any people.

Grandmother's Creation Story

Cree Warrior


Cree Chiefs and Leaders

The most famous leaders and chiefs included Chief Poundmaker, Chief Big Child, Starblanket,
Flash in the Sky, Chief Big Bear, Chief Fine Day, and Chief Cut Nose.

Big Bear


Stories

Achaanwaapush

Coyote Creates the Earth


Cree Legends and Stories

Stories of Cree Life



Cree Indian Fact Sheet

Indigenous
                                    Peoples' Literature Return to Indigenous Peoples' Literature

Compiled by: Glenn Welker
ghwelker@gmx.com

Copyright @ 1993-2016

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