Tân’si
The Michif languages are historically linked to Métis communities across the Métis homeland. The three Michif languages, commonly referred to as Southern Michif, Northern Michif, and Michif French, and are made up of elements from both First Nations languages and European languages – predominantly Plains Cree and French.
The Amelia Douglas Institute aims to support all three Michif languages. On this page, we share language resources for Northern Michif, Southern Michif, and Michif French.
Northern Michif
is a mostly Cree-based Michif language, with fewer French nouns than Southern Michif or Michif French. Northern Michif has historically been spoken in Northwestern Saskatchewan and Northern Alberta[3]. Northern Michif may also be referred to as Michif-Cree or Île-à-la-Crosse Michif.
Southern Michif
uses mostly Plains-Cree verbs and French nouns, but also borrows nouns from English, Saulteaux, and Cree[1]. Southern Michif is most associated with communities in southern Saskatchewan and North Dakota[2]. Southern Michif may also be referred to as Heritage Michif, Mixed Michif, or Turtle Mountain Chippewa Cree.
Resources About Michif Languages
To learn more about the Michif languages, click on the buttons below to check out pdf resources and videos about the Michif languages, and pursuing a career in Indigenous language revitalization produced by the Métis Nation of British Columbia.
References