Across the Mackenzie Basin, many Indigenous languages are spoken including six dialects of Dene (Tłı̨chǫ Yatıı̀, Dëne Sųłıné – Chipewyan, Dene Zhatıé – South Slavey, Sahtúot’ı̨nę Yatı̨́ – North Slavey, Dinjii Zhu’ Ginjik – Gwich’in, and Dane-zaa Záágéʔ – Beaver), Nēhiyawēwin (Cree), and Inuvialuktun.  In many cases, concepts in English do not have a direct translation into these Indigenous languages and the opposite is also true.  These Indigenous languages reflect a strong connection to the land and water and can help us to understand more about Indigenous knowledge systems.  We have put together a collection of commonly used terms in the five most commonly used languages across the region that can be used by our research team.

Many thanks to our translators for helping us to build this valuable resource.

Nēhiyawēwin (Cree) – Sharlene Alook and Floyd Auger

Dane-zaa Záágéʔ (Dene-Beaver) – Kevin Ahkimnachie

Dene Zhatıé  (Dene-South Slavey) – Kevin Ahkimnachie

Dinjii Zhu’ Ginjik (Dene-Gwich’in) – Eleanor Mitchell-Firth

Inuvialuktun – Holly Carpenter

EnglishNēhiyawēwin
(Cree)
Nēhiyawēwin
(Cree Syllabics)
Dane-zaa Záágéʔ
(Dene – Beaver)
Dene Zhatıé 
(Dene – South Slavey)
Dinjii Zhu’ Ginjik
(Dene – Gwich’in)
Inuvialuktun
Weather
isiwepan, tansi Kîsikâw, isikisikâw
ᐃᓯᐁᐧᐸᐣ ᑕᐣᓯ ᑫᓯᑳᐤ ᐃᓯᑭᓯᑳᐤ Xéwodehdli
Dáodéhdlee
Sila
Normal weatherayiwastin
ᐊᔨᐊᐧᐢᑎᐣTthene’ wǫjo
Dzene gonezų
Sila
Weather is changing
nohte mayikisikaw
ᓄᐦᑌ ᒪᔨᑭᓯᑲᐤ
Tthene e’c’ha ǫt’e
Dzene ech’ati
Sila allauyuaq
Warming spring weather
kisopwew
ᑭᓱᐯᐧᐤ
Wokǫ nda’udiidli
Yah/zhah edíli
Sila qiqaiqtuaq
Early spring
kȋyipa miyoskamiw
ᐠȋᔨᐸ ᒥᔪᐢᑲᒥᐤ
Gwé nda’udiidli
łuk’éh agodandeh
Sivulliq Upinraksaq
Spring
miyoskamiw
ᒥᔪᐢᑲᒥᐤ
Nda’udiidli
łuk’éh
Upinraksaq
Summer
nîpon
ᓀᐳᐣ
E’tǫ’leh’
imbéh
Auyaq
Early fall
mikiskon, kîyipa takwâkin
ᑫᔨᐸ ᑕᑳᐧᑭᐣ
Gwe etǫ nda’keh
xat’ãã agodandeh
Ukiaksaq
Late fall
otahkwatahkahk
ᐅᑕᐦᑲᐧᑕᐦᑲᕁ
Tthų etǫ’ nda’keh
xat’ãã melǫ
Ukiaksaquktuaq
Early winter
kîpahpipon

ᑫᐸᐦᐱᐳᐣ
Gwé yah’ke’ awodeh
Xaye agodandeh
Sivulliq Ukiuq
Winter
pipon

ᐱᐳᐣ
Yah’ke’
Xaye
Ukiuq
Winter weather
pipon
ᐱᐳᐣ
Yah’ke’
Xaye
Ukiuq sila
Good weather
mewkîsikâw

ᒣᐤᑫᓯᑳᐤ
Yahk’e tthene wǫjo
Xaye dzene gonezų
Sila nakuyuq
Weather is bad
mâyikisikâw

ᒫᔨᑭᓯᑳᐤ
Yahk’e tthene edu wǫjo
Dzene nezųile
Silaqluq
There is no cold weather
namoya iyewak itahkiyow isikisikâw

ᓇᒧᔭ ᐃᔦᐊᐧᐠ ᐃᑕᐦᑭᔪᐤ ᐃᓯᑭᓯᑳᐤ
Edu tthene wodli
Gohdli’ile
Sila qiqaiyuq
Weather has become good
imewisikisikâw
ᐃᒣᐃᐧᓯᑭᓯᑳᐤ
Wokǫ andawoja
gókõ anagújá
Sila nakuuyuqtuaq
Weather is good enough for hunting
imewisikisikâw kamacîhk
ᐃᒣᐃᐧᓯᑭᓯᑳᐤ ᑲᒪᒉᕁ
Wǫjo ndatsezedi gha
Nadzeze gha gonezų
Sila qiqaiyuq anguniaqtuat
Testing the snow
kôna êkocîhat
ᑰᓇ ᐁᑯᒉᐦᐊᐟ
Yah k’a tse’ndehta
Yah k’e tse’ni
Piangnuq
First snow
oskimspôhk
ᐅᐢᑭᒼᐢᐴᕁ
Nda’thah
nahshah
Apusiqtuaq
Snow on the ground
Kôna ayaw mohcihk
ᑰᓇ ᐊᔭᐤ ᒧᐦᒋᕁ
Digeh k’e ndae’ttha
Ndeh ke’ nashah
Apun nunami
Fresh snow
wâsâkonastew
ᐋᐧᓵᑯᓇᐢᑌᐤ
Yah’ du wotsi ǫt’e
Du jǫ nahshah
Apusiqqaun
Light snow
papistew
ᐸᐱᐢᑌᐤ
Yah t’ena
Nahshah gwa
Apilraun
Soft snow
Yoskihkôna
ᔪᐢᑭᐦᑰᓇ
Yah yodla
Yah/zhah decłea
Aqiuyaq
Deep soft snow
yoskihitimkonk kôna
ᔪᐢᑭᐦᐃᑎᒼᑯᐣᐠ ᑰᓇ
Yah tǫ’e de yodle’
Yah detǫ yodla
Mauya
Deep snow on the hillside (that may slip)
itimkônamahtinahk
ᐃᑎᒼᑰᓇᒪᐦᑎᓇᕁ
Yah detǫ shih mo’
Shihta yah ndak’e dezo ndudli’
Apun qimiq ulugaa
Powdery snow
piswîyakônakaw
ᐱᓭᐧᔭᑰᓇᑲᐤ
Yah deyah’de
Ya’de t’ah nahshah
Pukak
Wet snow
sâpît kôna
ᓵᐯᐟ ᑰᓇ
Yah tsele’
Yah sela’
Qanikłuk
Soft wet snow
yoski sâpît kôna
ᔪᐢᑭ ᓵᐯᐟ ᑰᓇ
Yah tsele yodła
Tsela t’ah nahshah
Misak
Wet falling snow (sleet)
sâpît kôna ipahkisin
ᓵᐯᐟ ᑰᓇ ᐃᐸᐦᑭᓯᐣ
Yah tsele t’ah nda’thah’
nahshah yah tse’le
Qanikłuk

Roughened snow
imaskowaskaht kôna
ᐃᒪᐢᑯᐊᐧᐢᑲᐦᐟ ᑰᓇ
Yah k’edze’
Ten’e tah’ nahshah
Apusiqtuaq

Snow that is melting in the sun
pîsim itehkitsat kôna
ᐯᓯᒼ ᐃᑌᐦᑭᐟᓴᐟ ᑰᓇ
Sa tsį yah nda’udidli
Yah udili sa tsį
Apun siqiniqmi augvingnaqtuq

Snow that melted and is frozen again
kôna itehkisôt ekwa kihtwam ahkowacit
ᑰᓇ ᐃᑌᐦᑭᓲᐟ ᐁᑲᐧ ᑭᐦᑕᐧᒼ ᐊᐦᑯᐊᐧᒋᐟ
Yah e’tene, uh k’aju ndahte’
Ki la yah na’teni’
Qiqsuqaqtuaq

Snow is going down (melting, compressing)
itihtihksôt kôna, ahkamtihksôt
ᐃᑎᐦᑎᐦᐠᓲᐟ ᑰᓇ ᐊᐦᑲᒼᑎᐦᐠᓲᐟ
Yah yué adeh udili
Yah yué adeh e’ten’ile
Augvingnaqtuq

Snow drifted (wind packed)

ipîwastak
ᐃᐯᐊᐧᐢᑕᐠ
Yah ke’e’tsihi
Ta’ke etsi’ / k’e tsįcla
Qimugyuk

Snow drifted (wind packed)
ewatowast kôna
ᐁᐊᐧᑐᐊᐧᐢᐟ ᑰᓇ
Yah ke’e’tsihi
Ta’ke etsi’ / k’e tsįcla
Qimugyuk
Hollow out snow due to wind (e.g. tunnel or a hole/cave
ewatowast kôna
ᐁᐊᐧᑐᐊᐧᐢᐟ ᑰᓇ
Yah teneh mbexa’oni’ah
Yah tene’me’gǫ’neą́
Piqtuluk
Flurry of snow
isimspôk
ᐃᓯᒼᐢᐴᐠ
Yah ke’eh’tsih
Nashah shi’ih’
Natiruvik

Blowing snow
eyotinast kôna
ᐁᔪᑎᓇᐢᐟ ᑰᓇ
Yah t’ah ndatsii
Nashah duye’
Piqtuluk
Crusted snow *same as rough snow
imaskowaskaht kôna
ᐃᒪᐢᑯᐊᐧᐢᑲᐦᐟ ᑰᓇ
Yah tene toneh
wotła’ t’ah nahshah
Qiqsaq apun
Hard crusted snow that gives way underfoot
kamasokowaskat kôna kahtehkisôt kipsihkoskowaw
ᑲᒪᓱᑯᐊᐧᐢᑲᐟ ᑰᓇ ᑲᐦᑌᐦᑭᓲᐟ
Yah tene ke’ k’e yué dadekeh
Ke’ yue ndak’e
Qiqsaq apun
Crunchy snow
ikaspist kôna
ᐃᑲᐢᐱᐢᐟ ᑰᓇ
Yah tene adii
Yah wotle’
Qiqsaq apun
Soft Spring Snow
yoskinsekwan kôna
ᔪᐢᑭᐣᓭᑲᐧᐣ ᑰᓇ
Yah yodle udili
Yah ten’ile
Aqiluraq
Little snow
apsis kôna
ᐊᑊᓯᐢ ᑰᓇ
Yah tsuda
Yah i’tsela
Aqiluraq
Light rain, dew
apsis ikimowan
ᐊᑊᓯᐢ ᐃᑭᒧᐊᐧᐣ
Dah’wodehtu’
Gotselé/dahdéhtú
Silaqluq

Sheets of rain *hard pouring rain
isîkihpîstahk
ᐃᓭᑭᐦᐯᐢᑕᕁ
Woteh ndahchų’
Duye de’chǫ’
Silaqluq
Freezing rain
ayakotihk kimowan
ᐊᔭᑯᑎᕁ ᑭᒧᐊᐧᐣ
Yah tene t’ah ndahchų
Eten’i nahchų
Silaqluq
Snow iced over by freezing rain
sahkweyaw or iyihtow
ᓴᐦᑫᐧᔭᐤ ᐃᔨᐦᑐᐤ
Yah tene e’ten cłǫ ndachu’
Guin’cłet ucho clo’
Apulu silaqluqlu
Melting snow
itihtihksôt kôna
ᐃᑎᐦᑎᐦᐠᓲᐟ ᑰᓇ
Yah udilii
Yah ehte’ile
Auqiyuaq apun
Water from snow (i.e., melted for tea)
nipiy oschi kôna
ᓂᐱᕀ ᐅᐢᒋ ᑰᓇ
Yah tue’
Tu yah tse’
Immiuqtuaq
Freshwater
oskinipiy
ᐅᐢᑭᓂᐱᕀ
Tu uujǫ
Tu nezų
Imaq
Drinking Water
minihkwayâpoym minihkôn nipiy
ᒥᓂᐦᑲᐧᔮᐳᕀᒼ ᒥᓂᐦᑰᐣ ᓂᐱᕀ
Tu tsedǫ
Tu tse’tsehi
Imiq
Water (big area of water)
mistahi nipiy
ᒥᐢᑕᐦᐃ ᓂᐱᕀ
Tu k’e wo’cho
Mieh cho’
Imagyuk
Water flows
nipiy ka pemicowahk
ᓂᐱᕀ ᑲ ᐯᒥᒍᐊᐧᕁ
Tu ghe tle’
Tu dehcli’
Imaq piimayuaq
The sources of the water
nipiy tantî oshcipiyîk
ᓂᐱᕀ ᑕᐣᑌ ᐅᐢᐦᒋᐱᔦᐠ
Tu andetii
Tu mbeta wodethii
Water levels
tânimâykohk nipiy
ᑖᓂᒫᕀᑯᕁ ᓂᐱᕀ
Tu dende’ǫ
Nde’ǫ gotsi tu
Imaq naqittuq – low
The level / top of the water (water level)
tahkohc nipiy tânimâykohk
ᑕᐦᑯᐦᐨ ᓂᐱᕀ ᑖᓂᒫᕀᑯᕁ
Tu deloh nde’oh
Tu nde’ǫ gotsį
Imaq kingiktuq
Deep water
atâmipêk
ᐊᑖᒥᐯᐠ
Wo’dįthhį
Go’dehtthį
Itiyuq Imaq
Water level is rising
wîtimîhk nipiy, iskipew
ᐁᐧᑎᒣᕁ ᓂᐱᕀ ᐃᐢᑭᐯᐤ
Tu tadelį
Tu dieh adde’
Chuu dàk t’idi’inh
Imaq qagvaqtuaq
Surface of the water
tahkohc nipiy
ᑕᐦᑯᐦᐨ ᓂᐱᕀ
Tu ke’
Tu meh’
Qagvaqtuaq
Shallow water
pahkwaw
ᐸᐦᑲᐧᐤ
Wodin tłetse’
Godi’ tłesa
Ikkalruq
No more water
meschipayew nipiy
ᒣᐢᒋᐸᔦᐤ ᓂᐱᕀ
Tu edulį
Tu nedu’e
Chuu kwàh
Makaituq imaq
Water near the shore that is deep
itimew
ᐃᑎᒣᐤ
Tu moh wo’dinthhį
Tu da’moh godinthį
Imaq sina itiyuq
It was put in the water
Kîhastahk kotah nipihk or nipiyihk astahk
ᑫᐦᐊᐢᑕᕁ ᑯᑕᐦ ᓂᐱᕁ ᓂᐱᔨᕁ ᐊᐢᑕᕁ
Tu ta’ nih’tse’nihtį
Tu tahniits’eni’chu
Imaqmun qakitaa
It contains water
nipiy astew or inipiywihk
ᓂᐱᕀ ᐊᐢᑌᐤ ᐅᕒ ᐃᓂᐱᔨᐧᕁ
Tu mbet’a wolį’
Tu mbeta’
Imaqtuq
Good tasting
wîkasin nipiy
ᐁᐧᑲᓯᐣ ᓂᐱᕀ
Tu łuko
Tu theka’
Gwiinzii vigwaandaih
Mammaqtuq imaq
Good quality (may not apply to water)
meyosîchikatîk
ᒣᔪᓭᒋᑲᑌᐠ
Wolį uujǫ adla
Ki golį nezų
Mammaqtuq
Dirty water
wîpahtan nipiy
ᐁᐧᐸᐦᑕᐣ ᓂᐱᕀ
Tu tsene’
Tu dzǫ t’ehi
Chuu vee
Imaq salumaittuq
Bad tasting water
Ispakowan nipiy
ᐃᐢᐸᑯᐊᐧᐣ ᓂᐱᕀ
Tu dehtsį
Tu nezų’ile
Chuu tr’aakaii
Imaq mamaittuq
Bad smelling water
Wicekan nipiy
ᐃᐧᒉᑲᐣ ᓂᐱᕀ
Tu woteh dehtsį
Duye’ tu de’tsį
Chuu nididzin
Imaq tipaaqtuaq
Fall falling, trickling water
pakihtin nipiy
ᐸᑭᐦᑎᐣ ᓂᐱᕀ
Tu nda’de’tli
Tu nda’ dehlį
Ukiuqman piimayuaq imaq
Bugs in the water
manchôsahk ehayawak watayihk
ᒪᐣᒎᓴᕁ ᐁᐦᐊᔭᐊᐧᐠ ᐊᐧᑕᔨᕁ
Tu ta’ tehtsa
Tu tah tessa ati
Niviuyiat imaqmi
River bugs
sîpiyihk manchôsak
ᓭᐱᔨᕁ ᒪᐣᒎᓴᐠ
Sageh wotehtsa
Deh tah’ tehtsa
Niviuvak

Lake bugs
sâkahikan manchôsak
ᓵᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ ᒪᐣᒎᓴᐠ
Mieh wolį xede tehtsa
Tu tehtsa
Tasiqmi niviuyiat
Water that flows quickly
nipiy kisiskâciwan
ᓂᐱᕀ ᑭᓯᐢᑳᒋᐊᐧᐣ
tu gwé ghetlii
Tu shi’ih atį
imaq puptayuaq sukayuq
Water that flows slowly
nipiy nasihkâc nihtâciwan
ᓂᐱᕀ ᓇᓯᐦᑳᐨ ᓂᐦᑖᒋᐊᐧᐣ
Tu tthų xetlii
Tu thoǫ ghii’tle
Imaq piimayuaq sukaittuq
Water that is stagnant (doesn’t flow, pond)
nipiy kâmwâtan
ᓂᐱᕀ ᑳᒫᐧᑕᐣ
Tu the’tlii / mieh gwa
Tu ttheh’tle’/ mieh’a
Tasiraq
Water falls
nipiy kanahkihtik
ᓂᐱᕀ ᑲᓇᐦᑭᐦᑎᐠ
Tu ndaa’deli cho
Tu náilî
Rapids
pawistik
ᐸᐃᐧᐢᑎᐠ
Tthhe tah nįlį
Tthe’bacha
Itimniq
Rivers going into Lakes
sîpîyah pihtikwetihkaw sâkahikanihk
Sageh mieh tsi ghetlii’ / łii nįlį
łiidlii
Kuuk tasiqmun
Small rivers going into big rivers
sîpîsisak pimiciwan
ᓭᐯᓯᓴᐠ ᐱᒥᒋᐊᐧᐣ
Sagah sageh cho tah e’tlii
Dea łiidlii
Kuuk tasiqmun
sîpîsis
Sa’gah