Nehiyawetan | Let's Speak Cree - Seasons 1, 2 & 3
(2008, 2009 & 2011, 22-24 minutes x 25 episodes) Singular episodes available, listed separately.

Nehiyawetan means "Let's Speak Cree". This dynamic six part series combines live action and animation in an innovative approach to making the Cree language accessible to young children. It follows a group of Aboriginal children as they learn to speak Cree in the city. The approach taken reinforces learning through play, music, adventure and storytelling. Nehiyawetan: Let’s Speak Cree promotes language retention, offers a Cree perspective of the world and encourages smart choices about living in the city.

Season 1 - Episode List:
Greetings (24 minutes)
Join Grace, Kai and Kiyano as their teacher Josephine teaches them Cree words for “hello”, “I am fine,” and “how are you” while musical guest Jason Burnstick shares a fun greeting song with them. Next is an exciting game of Go Go Stop – Cree style, before the children gather for the animated story “The Shy Village,” about a boy who lives in a village where no one says “tansi” (Cree greeting).
Numbers (24 minutes)
Grace, Kai, Kiyano and their teacher Josephine are off to the farmers’ market to shop for fruit and test their new Cree counting words. At game time, they have fun seeing how many times they can hop on one foot, counting in Cree. Then, Ray Thunderchild rallies them for a fun round dance. Meanwhile, we see the animated story about Mick the Mouse, who must climb up the stairs to get inside his house before the storm arrives.
Action (24 minutes)
Grace, Kai, and Kiyano get the chance to exercise their bodies and their Cree with action words for running, dancing, jumping and stopping. Musical guest Sandy Scofield joins in on the fun while Grace shares a story about how much she likes to dance.
Family (24 minutes)
Grace, Kai, and Kiyano learn family titles in Cree, and fun ensues as they play charades, trying to guess who Josephine is pretending to be. Cheryl L'Hirondelle appears as a musical guest, and Grace shares a story about her family.
Animals (24 minutes)
Grace, Kai, Kiyano and their teacher Josephine are off to Stanley Park in search of different animals and practice the Cree words for their various furry friends. Kai shares a story about his Atim (“dog” in Cree), and Cheryl L'Hirondelle drums and sings about animals with the children.
Fun (24 minutes)
Musical guest Jason Burnstick joins Grace, Kai, and Kiyano on a journey to Jericho Beach in Vancouver to have a picnic, play some games and enjoy berry picking. In other words, they're out to have “fun”!! Kai shares a story about how much he likes to climb... even wall-climb!

Season 2 - Episode List:
In the Garden (24 minutes)
Tansi! Kai and Auntie Josephine are back, and joined by new student, Kayla, for another fun year of Cree. What better way to start the new year than “In the Garden”, learning about all the things that grow right in their own backyard! Guest Jason Burnstick joins in on the fun with a song about the nature that surrounds us.
Colours (24 minutes)
The world is a colourful place, and Kai and Kayla are learning about the four colours of the medicine wheel – white, yellow, black, and red – with their Auntie Josephine and guest performer, Art Napoleon. Artist Jerry Whitehead stops by to teach Kai and Kayla about mixing colours for their beautiful painting.
Seasons (24 minutes)
The harvest is here, and it’s time to celebrate the arrival of a new season – and the perfect time to learn about the four seasons of the year! We are welcome at the Aboriginal Garden at the University of British Columbia, where Kai and Kayla help serve the elders and eat the delicious harvest meal. Guest Renae Morriseau drops in to sing a song about the seasons.
Clothing (24 minutes)
You are cordially invited to Kai and Kayla’s dress up party! They are on a costume adventure with their Auntie Josephine, as they learn the Cree words for the clothes they wear, and play an exciting game with funny clothes. Musical guest, Joseph Naytowhow is scheduled to perform at the party, so stop in for the fun!
Weather (24 minutes)
It is sunny, it is windy, it is rainy, it is snowy. Josephine and guest performer, Skeena Reece, teach Kai and Kayla the Cree words for various weather. And they go to Science World to see how weather can help make energy. This episode is sure to bring sunshine to your house!
Feast (24 minutes)
Let’s eat, feast, and give thanks with Josephine, Kai, and Kayla, as they celebrate the end of another great year! All are welcomed in the feast at the Kla-how-eya Centre in Surrey, BC, filled with laughing and singing with the Children of the Rainbow. Guest Art Napoleon shares all the fun of feasting and of course, giving.

Season 3 - Episode List:
Review (22 minutes)
Welcome to year three of Tansi! Nehiyawetan! Kai, Kayla, and Auntie Josephine hope you remember your words from last season. Don’t worry if you are a little rusty, because our games, adventures and sing-alongs will help you remember and get ready for the new season of learning Cree.
Storytelling (22 minutes)
Stories play an important role in Cree culture and Kai and Kayla are ready to learn the words for storytelling. They share their own stories, join their many friends and elders in a storytelling circle and visit Nerd Corps to find out about animation – another form of storytelling. Art Napoleon is the musical guest.
Sports (22 minutes)
Have you stretched? Good, because there’s lots of running and playing as Kai and Kayla discover Cree words for sports. They skateboard, climb, and try to score against a top Aboriginal soccer player, Curtis Thomas. There’s even more fun when Jason Burnstick sings a lively song about playing sports.
Canoeing in the City (22 minutes)
Slap on some sunscreen and grab a life jacket – we’re going canoeing in the city with Kai, Kayla, Auntie Josephine and the wonderful people at Takaya Tours from Tsleil-Waututh First Nation! Discover words for canoeing, see how canoes are made, and sing along with musical guest Art Napoleon about this fun and cultural activity.
Making Art (22 minutes)
Making art is fun, especially with Kai and Kayla. Join them as they learn Cree words about art and visit weaver Debbie Sparrow at her studio. Musical guest and artist Cheryl L’Hirondelle visits, so join in on a song about making art and being creative.
Theatre (22 minutes)
Ladies and gentleman, give a big hand for Kai, Kayla and Tantoo Cardinal. It’s theatre day with face-painting, acting and Cree words about theatre. Join us as Tantoo takes us into the world of make-believe and save a big round of applause for musical guest (and actor) Renae Morriseau.
Being Healthy (22 minutes)
Good health has always been important in Aboriginal culture, as Kai and Kayla discover when they begin learning Cree words and phrases about health. As part of their adventure, they learn why visiting the dentist really isn’t scary. Musical guest Nadine Gagne sings an engaging song about how to be healthy.
Winter Solstice (22 minutes)
Let’s exchange gifts and give thanks. Kai and Kayla learn the words for the winter solstice and Christmas. They’ll put on their jackets and boots and head up Grouse Mountain for fun in the snow while musical guest, Janet Panic, performs a song welcoming the Christmas season. Elder Phil L’Hirondelle shares his knowledge about the teachings of the medicine wheel and the solstice, as the cast goes with Phil to an actual medicine wheel that maps the sun’s journey through the year.
Sun, Moon, Stars (22 minutes)
Kai and Kayla learn Cree words for sun, moon, stars and sky and explore the wonders of space at the planetarium. Kai interviews Commander John Herrington, former astronaut and the first Aboriginal person to walk in space! Rising star Jonathan Todd sings his original song about the sun, moon and stars above us.
Music (22 minutes)
Start the music! Kai and Kayla learn the words for music, and Ostwelve drops by to create a hip tune and jam with all the kids at home. Kai, Kayla and Auntie Josephine visit a music store and get to try out some musical instruments. Musical guest, Renae Morriseau returns for another sing-along, and Amy Wutunee joins in to sing the Cree alphabets.
Scary Stuff (22 minutes)
There’s something spooky in the air. Kai and Kayla learn the words for scary stuff and test their nerves in a haunted house. Musical guest Jason Burnstick returns with a song about not being scared.
Coyotes in the City (22 minutes)
Join Kai and Kayla as they search for coyotes in the city while they learn the words for the animals that we share the city with. There will be many animals to see when they visit Burnaby Lake and the Wildlife Rescue Centre. Musical guest Jason Burnstick is back once more to sing a song about the wildlife that shares this land with humans.
Pow-Wow (22 minutes)
It’s the Deer Lake Tansi Pow-wow and you are all invited. Kai and Kayla learn words that help us understand the pow-wow, hear stories about the beginnings of pow-wow, and they get to take part in this traditional event. Smokey Valley and Travelling Spirit Drummers are the host drums. Curtis Clearsky will also drop in to perform at this celebration with his hip-hop tribute to the power of the pow-wow.

Directed by: Kamala Todd, Jason Krowe, Loretta Todd
Produced by: Loretta Sarah Todd, Nehiyawetan Productions

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