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First Words: Cameron Adams speaks Swampy Cree

In this episode of First Words, Cameron Adams explains how living with an acquired brain injury makes learning Swampy Cree even more challenging. He'll also teach you a bunch of words including kisâkihitin, which means I love you, and how to say hello and bugs.
CBC Radio ·
Cameron Adams is a University student from Gimli, Man. who was inspired to learn Swampy Cree after finding out the last fluent speaker in his family was his great great grandmother. (CBC/Provided by Cameron Adams)

First Words is a weekly podcast focused on Indigenous languages. Each week, we welcome a new guest into the hosting chair to teach us three words in their language. 

Cameron Adams, who is from Gimli, Man., said he first heard Swampy Cree spoken at his grandparents' house.

"They were talking in English and they said this word, kisâkihitin. I asked about it, [and] it means 'I love you' [in Swampy Cree]," he recalled.

At that moment, Adams he decided to learn how to speak the language.

To get started, Adams joined a Facebook group called Cree Simon Says, which helps members learn how to speak Cree. He eventually he took his passion for the language to his high school, where he translated the daily cafeteria lunch specials.

"On a Friday we had pizza, so for pizza it was [translated to] pwâkamo-pahkwêsikan, which translates [back in English] to throw-up bread," said Cameron, who added he has since learned other — less disgusting — translations for pizza.

Adams explained the last person in his family to fluently speak Swampy Cree was his great-great-grandmother.

"It kind of gives me that drive to speak it because she spoke it growing up, and within her children's life it hasn't been spoken much," he said.

"It's very important for me to pass on this language because if we don't pass on the language it will die … we need young people to speak the language and that's my goal."

But learning Swampy Cree is tricky for Adams because he has a significant challenge that stems back to his infancy.

At six weeks old, Adams had hydrocephalus — a build-up of fluid on the brain. He was fine until he was 11 years old, but a need for surgery at that point left him with an acquired brain injury.

"Because of my brain injury I have sometimes trouble remembering different words and phrases, so I have to work a little bit harder," said Adams.

"I have to put in a lot of effort into [learning] every single word, so [I have] that sense of pride because it takes me a while to learn each word."