Cree Totally Explained

Everything about Cree totally explained

Cree is an exonym applied to various peoples indigenous to North America, namely the Nehiyaw, Nehithaw, Nehilaw, Nehinaw, Ininiw, Ililiw, Iynu, and Iyyu. These peoples can be divided into two major groups, those that identify themselves using a derivative of their historical appellation Nehilâw and those identifying themselves using the word "person", historically Iliniw. Both groups share a common ancestry but are now divided mainly along linguistic lines. Those residing west of the Ontario border (except for one group residing in Quebec mistakenly called Attikamek but who self-identify as Nehiraw) all the way to the Rocky Mountains tend to refer to themselves using the first name, historically "Nehilaw". The second group includes all the groups east of James Bay use the historical term for man "Iliniw" are were mistakenly called Montagnais and Naskapi as well as Cree.
   Both major groups speak languages of the Algonquin language family. There is a major division between both groups however, in that the Eastern group palatalizes the sound /k/ when it precedes front vowels. There is also a major difference in grammatical vocabulary (particles) between the groups. Within both groups however, there's variation around the pronunciation of the Proto-Algonquian phoneme *l, which can be realized as /l/, /r/, /y/, /n/, or /th/ by different groups.
   The rest of the article will focus on the western group, the group usually referred to when the misnomer 'Cree' is used.
Skilled buffalo hunters and horsemen, the Cree were allied to the Assiniboine of the Sioux before encountering English, Scottish (especially Orcadian) and French settlers in the 16th century.
   Presently, the remaining Cree in the United States live on the Rocky Boy Indian Reservation which is shared with the Chippewa.

In Canada

The Cree are the largest group of First Nations in Canada, with over 200,000 members and 135 registered bands. This large number may be due to the Cree's traditional openness to inter-tribal marriage. Together, their reserve lands are the largest of any First Nations group in the country. The largest Cree band and the second largest First Nations Band in Canada after the Six Nations Iroquois is the Lac La Ronge Band in northern Saskatchewan.
The Métis (from French Métis - any person of mixed ancestry.) are people of mixed ancestry such as Nehiyaw (or Anishinabe) and French, English, or Scottish heritage. According to the Canadian Government's Indian and Northern Affairs, the Metis were historically the children of French fur traders and Nehiyaw women or, from unions of English or Scottish traders and Northern Dene women. It is now generally accepted though in academic circles that the term Métis can be used to refer to any combination of persons of mixed Native American and European heritage. Although, historical definitions for Metis remain. Some Anglo-Metis are also of Cree descent. Canada's Indian and Northern Affairs specifically but broadly define Metis to be those persons of mixed First Nation and European ancestry.

Cree First Nations

Notable Cree

Irene Bedard, actress

Jonathan Cheechoo, NHL hockey player

Michael Greyeyes, actor

Autumn Petros-Good, scientist

Buffy Sainte-Marie, singer

Cree Summer, singer/actress

Gordon Tootoosis, actor

Shania Twain, singer/songwriter born to a father of Cree background, adopted by Ojibwa step-father as a baby. See:

Further Information

Get more info on 'Cree'.

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