ᐸᑭᑎᓈᓱᐃᐧᐣ [pakitinâsowin]
Shayne Hommy
Language revitalization tools for Cree, rooted in Indigenous perspectives.
Overview
pakitinâsowin is a Cree word that translates to a gift that pulls at your heart string, something that hurts a little to give up, but is necessary in order to move forward. This project was created as my gift back to my community Kelly Lake, BC.
It is a physical manifestation of the knowledge that has been passed down to me. Indigenous Second Language Learning is a collective effort, a reciprocal practice, another step towards rekindling my connection to my heritage & cultural birthright.
Problem Space
Due to the effects of assimilation, Cree and other Indigenous languages are at risk of extinction. Becoming increasingly moribund with it’s fluent speakers mostly comprised of the older generation, creating gaps between the generational knowledge transfer process.
Plains Cree ‘Y’ Dialect
There 5 main dialects of Cree, however they can vary across different communities with slight differences from place to place (similar to an accent). The dialect I based my work off of is the Plains Cree ‘Y’ Dialect, because it is my what my family speaks.
Outcomes
I created a mobile language learning device developed specifically for the Plains Cree Y Dialect. Featuring four distinctive sets of wooden syllabic tiles that work in conjunction with the game mat which acts as a physical mnemonic. The idea behind this was to create a designated space to play with the letter tiles.
The tiles are magnetized creating a Scrabble-like mechanic for word building. The device is meant to evolve alongside your learning, and can be used in multiple ways for both beginner and intermediate contexts.
Each set of tiles contains 9 main syllabics along with 12 final characters (21 pieces in total). The sets are color coded using wood stain to match its allocated space and for differentiation.
Cree can also be written in multiple directions, my design accommodates this by making each letter tile double-sided & mirrored, as well as inserting magnets into its sides.
Approach
Cree has 36 characters all together (not including final characters). The specific orientation of the glyphs indicates the associated consonant sound, so essentially there are only 9 primary syllabics that can be rotated up to four times (see example below) to create all 36 syllables within the language. This is why I designed each set to have 9 pieces, to include more would have been unnecessary.
I designed this project with the people from my community in mind, knowing I had to create something that would be appealing for most age-groups. So I made sure the tiles could be multi-functional; they can be used as stamps for ink or pressed into clay or playdough.
The placemat has room for up to four people to play at a time, leaning into the idea of reciprocity & collaborative learning. Each section of the place mat is labelled with an embroidered translation of the four cardinal directions (North, East, South, West).
Not only as a wayfinding method, but also to incorporate a bit of spiritual symbolism because the directions carry significant meaning and are often represented using the following colors.
Except for purple, it is traditionally known as a grandmother color. I chose to include it as a way to honor my great grandmother, as she was my first Cree teacher.
I inserted magnets into the corners of the placemat, along with handles so that it can act as packaging for the tiles by folding into a bag. Allowing people to bring the device with them anywhere.
Additional Ephemera
I made a poster for participants to reference during the language learning process that features a sacred Star Blanket motif on the backside. To go along with this, I created a zine to provide more contextual information.
