Jean Okimāsis Explained

Honorific Prefix:Dr.
Jean Okimāsis
Pronunciation:
Birth Name:Jean Lillian Littlechief
Birth Place:White Bear First Nations
Alma Mater:University of Regina
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Works:, which produces label "Works" -->
Spouse:Arok Wolvengrey

Dr. Jean L. Okimāsis (born Jean Lillian Littlechief)[1] is a Cree linguist who has worked on teaching and documenting the Plains Cree language.

Career

In 1982, Okimāsis started work on Cree language programs at the Saskatchewan Indian Federated college (now the First Nations University of Canada). She published a textbook, workbook, and teaching grammar of the Cree language called Cree, Language of the Plains, which is publicly available under a Creative commons license.[2]

Okimāsis has been instrumental in developing and promoting the use of the standard Roman orthography for writing the Cree language.[3] In 2008, she cowrote How to Spell it in Cree (The Standard Roman Orthography) with Arok Wolvengrey.

Recognition

Okimāsis received the YWCA Woman of Distinction Award in 2000, and an honorary doctorate from the University of Regina in 2005.[4]

In 2019, a park was named after Okimāsis in Regina.[4] [3]

See also

References

  1. Web site: Our Honourary Founders . Cree Literacy Network . 5 March 2020.
  2. Web site: Cree: Language of the Plains / nēhiyawēwin: paskwāwi-pīkiskwēwin . University of Regina.
  3. Web site: Ogg . Arden . Regina opens Jean Okimâsis Park . Cree Literacy Network . 31 March 2019 . 6 March 2020.
  4. News: Regina planning commission wants to name a park after Jean Okimasis . 6 March 2020 . CBC News . August 2, 2018.

Bibliography

External links