Kashechewan grandfather explains why it's important to pass down his Cree language

Mushkego Cree is Jonathan Solomon's first language and he considers himself fortunate to have retained the ability to read it, write it and speak it fluently.

He says his late parents raised him speaking Cree. "That's who I am — a Cree person," said Solomon. 

"It's a language that was given to us by our Creator, a nation, a culture," he said. "It's quite unique and it's beautiful."

"Our elders, they're oral people . . . they would share stories with you orally in their language . . . and it's something that's very unique," said Solomon. 

Solomon says that while his grandchildren understand Mushkego Cree, they're a little shy about speaking it.

"We try to tell them to not be shy because that's your language, that's who you are."

One of Solomon's grandchildren was born in October, 2018. He encourages his son to speak to the child in Cree so the youngster will be able to understand and speak it when he grows up. 

"It starts from the home, from the parents, to talk to their kids in their language, and to converse with them in their language as they grow up so they'll be able to continue to speak their language," said Solomon. 

"When we get together with my friends, when we talk . . . we joke around in our language, tell stories, and it's like I said, it's unique and it's a beautiful language."