The Swampy Cree people, also known by their autonyms ''Néhinaw'', ''Maskiki Wi Iniwak'', ''Mushkekowuk,'' ''Maškékowak'' or ''Maskekon'' (and therefore also ''Muskegon'' and ''Muskegoes'') or by exonyms including ''West Main Cree,'' ''Lowland Cree'', and ''Homeguard Cree'', are a division of the

Cree The Cree ( cr, néhinaw, script=Latn, , etc.; french: link=no, Cri) are a North American Indigenous people. They live primarily in Canada, where they form one of the country's largest First Nations. In Canada, over 350,000 people are Cree or ...

Nation occupying lands located in northern

Manitoba , image_map = Manitoba in Canada 2.svg , map_alt = Map showing Manitoba's location in the centre of Southern Canada , Label_map = yes , coordinates = , capital = Winn ...

, along the

Saskatchewan River The Saskatchewan River (Cree: ''kisiskāciwani-sīpiy'', "swift flowing river") is a major river in Canada. It stretches about from where it is formed by the joining together of the North Saskatchewan and South Saskatchewan Rivers to Lake Winn ...

in northeastern

Saskatchewan Saskatchewan ( ; ) is a province in western Canada, bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, to the northeast by Nunavut, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dak ...

, along the shores of

Hudson Bay Hudson Bay ( crj, text=ᐐᓂᐯᒄ, translit=Wînipekw; crl, text=ᐐᓂᐹᒄ, translit=Wînipâkw; iu, text=ᑲᖏᖅᓱᐊᓗᒃ ᐃᓗᐊ, translit=Kangiqsualuk ilua or iu, text=ᑕᓯᐅᔭᕐᔪᐊᖅ, translit=Tasiujarjuaq; french: b ...

and adjoining interior lands south and west as well as territories along the shores of Hudson and

James Bay James Bay (french: Baie James; cr, ᐐᓂᐯᒄ, Wînipekw, dirty water) is a large body of water located on the southern end of Hudson Bay in Canada. Both bodies of water extend from the Arctic Ocean, of which James Bay is the southernmost pa ...

Ontario Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...

. They are geographically and to some extent culturally split into two main groupings, and therefore speak two dialects of the

Swampy Cree language Swampy Cree (variously known as Maskekon, Omaškêkowak, and often anglicized as Omushkego) is a variety of the Algonquian language, Cree. It is spoken in a series of Swampy Cree communities in northern Manitoba, central northeast of Saskatchewa ...

, which is a "n-dialect": * Western Swampy Cree called themselves: ''Mushkego'', ''Mushkegowuk'' (or ''Maškēkowak''), also called ''Lowland (Half-Homeguard) Cree'', speak the western dialect of the Swampy Cree language, while the ''s''/''š'' distinction is kept in the eastern dialect, the western dialect have merged both into ''s'' * Eastern Swampy Cree / Western James Bay Cree called themselves: ''Omaškêkowak'', ''Omushkego'', ''Omushkegowak'', together with the Moose Cree also called ''Lowland Cree, Lowland (Homeguard) Cree, West Main Cree, James Bay Mushkego'', because they were living along the western shores of the Hudson and James Bay they were oft also known as ''Western James Bay Cree'', reflecting their position in contrast to the ''(Eastern) James Bay Cree'', speak the eastern dialect of the Swampy Cree language, which kept the ''s''/''š'' distinction

European contact

In Manitoba, The Swampy Cree's first recorded contact with Europeans was in 1600 at the mouth of the

Nelson Nelson may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Nelson'' (1918 film), a historical film directed by Maurice Elvey * ''Nelson'' (1926 film), a historical film directed by Walter Summers * ''Nelson'' (opera), an opera by Lennox Berkeley to a lib ...

and

Hayes Hayes may refer to: * Hayes (surname), including a list of people with the name ** Rutherford B. Hayes, 19th president of the United States * Hayes (given name) Businesses * Hayes Brake, an American designer and manufacturer of disc brakes * H ...

rivers in northern Manitoba by a

Hudson's Bay Company The Hudson's Bay Company (HBC; french: Compagnie de la Baie d'Hudson) is a Canadian retail business group. A fur trade, fur trading business for much of its existence, HBC now owns and operates retail stores in Canada. The company's namesake b ...

party travelling about inland.

First Nations

Historically, the Cree nations in the central part of the Cree continuum were classified by their relationship to Hudson Bay and James Bay: Lowland (Homeguard) Cree who were found along the coast, Lowland (Half-Homeguard) Cree who seasonally transitioned between the coast and the interior, and the Upland Cree in the deep interior who often were intermixed with the

Ojibwe The Ojibwe, Ojibwa, Chippewa, or Saulteaux are an Anishinaabe people in what is currently southern Canada, the northern Midwestern United States, and Northern Plains. According to the U.S. census, in the United States Ojibwe people are one of ...

. West of these Lowland and Upland Cree were the Woodland and Plains Cree. Linguistically, the Cree are divided by their general language features, where the Cree nations in the central part of the Cree continuum are classified as "th-Cree", "n-Cree" and "l-Cree", from west to east; Cree traditionally associated with the

Woodland Cree The ''Saāwithiniwak'' or Woodland Cree, are a Cree people, calling themselves Nîhithaw in their own dialect of the language. They are the largest indigenous group in northern Alberta and are an Algonquian people. Prior to the 18th century, t ...

make no distinction between "s" and "š", while the Lowland and Upland Cree do. Today, together with the "n-Cree" dialect-speaking Woodland Cree, those who live in the Lowlands and Uplands who speak the "n-Cree" dialect are called "Swampy Cree", but culturally Moose Cree (the Cree speaking the "l-dialect")Honigmann, p. 218 and other peoples of the Upland including the

Oji-Cree The Oji-Cree are a First Nations in Canada, First Nation in the Canada, Canadian provinces of Ontario and Manitoba, residing in a narrow band extending from the Missinaibi River region in Northeastern Ontario at the east to Lake Winnipeg at the w ...

occasionally self-identify as being "Swampy Cree". :West Swampy Cree * Winnipeg Cree (historical) ** Chemawawin Cree NationRhodes, Richard and Evelyn Todd, 1981, p. 53, p. Fig. 1Swampy Cree Tribal Council Incorporated
/ref> (also Rocky Cree) **

Cumberland House Cree Nation Cumberland House Cree Nation ( cr, ᑳ ᒥᓂᐢᑎᑯ ᒥᓇᐦᐃᑯᐢᑳᕽ ''kâ-ministiko-minahikoskâhk'', meaning ''Island that's in a pine forest'')Wolvengrey, Arok, editor. Cree: Words. Regina, University of Regina Press, 2001https: ...

Fisher River Cree Nation Fisher River ( cr, ᐅᒉᑯ ᓰᐱᐩ, ocêko-sîpiy) is a Cree First Nations reserve located approximately 193 km north of Manitoba's capital city, Winnipeg. The Fisher River Cree Nation is composed of two reserves; Fisher River 44 and Fi ...

Fort Severn First Nation Fort Severn First Nation ( [] in Swampy Cree language, Cree) is a Western Swampy Cree First Nations in Canada, First Nation band government located on Hudson Bay and is the most Extreme communities of Canada, northern community in Ontario, Canad ...

Fox Lake Cree Nation Fox Lake Cree Nation ( cr, ᒪᐦᑫᓯᐤ ᓵᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ, Makaso Sakahigan (mahkêsiw sâkahikan)) (formerly Gillam Band) is a First Nations band government whose reserve is located in Fox Lake, Bird, Manitoba, Canada. The Fox Lake Training ...

Marcel Colomb First Nation Marcel Colomb First Nation (MCFN) ( cr, ᓇᒦᐏ ᓵᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ, namîwi-sâkahikan), Band #328, is a First Nations Band of approximately 449 Registered Swampy Cree (Maškēkowak / nēhinawak) and Rocky Cree (Asinīskāwiyiniwak) located in ...

(also Rocky Cree) **

Mathias Colomb First Nation The Mathias Colomb Cree Nation (MCCN) ( cr, ᐸᑲᑕᐚᑲᐣ, pukatawâkan) —also known as Mathias Colomb First Nation, Mathias Colomb (Cree) First Nation, and Pukatawagan/Mathias Colomb Cree Nation—is a remote First Nations community in ...

(also Rocky Cree) **

Misipawistik Cree Nation Misipawistik Cree Nation (MCN; formerly Grand Rapids First Nation, Cree: ᒥᓯ ᐹᐏᐢᑎᐠ misi-pâwistik, ''meaning: at the big rapids'') is a Cree community in northern Manitoba. ''Misipawistik'' in the local Cree language means 'Rushing Ra ...

Mosakahiken Cree Nation The Mosakahiken Cree Nation (Cree: ᒨᓵᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ môsâkahikan)Ogg, Arden (August 19 2015) Cree Names of Cree-speaking Communities across CanadLink/ref> is a First Nations located around the community of Moose Lake in northern Manitoba. ...

Opaskwayak Cree Nation The Opaskwayak Cree Nation (; OCN, Cree: ᐅᐸᐢᑿᔭᐠ , ''opâskwêyâhk'', meaning: at the wooded narrows) is a First Nations band government in Manitoba, Canada. Most of the on-reserve population lives near The Pas on the OCN 21E reser ...

Red Earth First Nation Red Earth Cree Nation ( cr, ᑳ ᒥᐦᑿᐢᑮᐘᑳᕽ ''kâ-mihkwaskîwakâhk'') is a Cree community in Saskatchewan, Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three terr ...

** Sapotaweyak Cree Nation (also Plains Cree and Saulteaux) ** Shamattawa Cree Nation **

Shoal Lake Cree Nation The Shoal Lake Cree Nation ( cr, ᐹᐦᒁᐤ ᓵᑲᐦᐃᑲᓂᕽ ''pâhkwâw-sâkahikanihk'') is a Swampy Cree First Nations band government in Saskatchewan, Canada located east of Nipawin. The Cree The Cree ( cr, néhinaw, script=L ...

Tataskweyak Cree Nation The Tataskweyak Cree Nation ( cr, ᑕᑕᐢᑿᔭᕽ, tataskwayak) (Formerly known as ''Split Lake Cree First Nation'' in English) is a First Nations band government whose primary community is located at Split Lake, Manitoba, on the Nelson River s ...

** War Lake First Nation ** Wuskwi Sipihk First Nation **

York Factory First Nation York Factory First Nation (Cree: )—sometimes referred to as York Landing First Nation or York Factory Cree Nation—is a First Nations community in northern Manitoba, Canada. Its main reserve is York Landing (; ), which is located along the eas ...

:East Swampy Cree *Albany River Cree (historical) **

Fort Albany First Nation Fort Albany First Nation ( cr, ᐲᐦᑖᐯᒄ ᐃᓕᓕᐗᒃ pîhtâpek ililiwak, "lagoon Cree") is a Cree First Nation in Cochrane District in Northeastern Ontario, Canada, within the territory covered by Treaty 9. Situated on the southern ...

Lovisek, 1999, " Moose Cree" pp. 41–42. (also

) **

Kashechewan First Nation The Kashechewan First Nation (, cr, ᑫᔒᒋᐗᓐ ᐃᓕᓕᐗᒃ, kêšîciwan ililiwak) is a Cree First Nation band government located near James Bay in Northern Ontario, Canada. The community is located on the northern shore of the Albany ...

(also Moose CreeEllis, C. D., 1995, p. xiv) *Attawapiskat River Cree (historical) **

Attawapiskat First Nation The Attawapiskat First Nation ( Cree: , "People of the parting of the rocks"; unpointed: ) is an isolated First Nation located in Kenora District in northern Ontario, Canada, at the mouth of the Attawapiskat River on James Bay. The traditiona ...

Mushkegowuk Council
/ref> * Mattagami River Cree (historical) ** Flying Post First Nation (also

) * Nipigon Cree (historical) * Severn River Cree (historical) **(see also

) * Winisk River Cree (historical) **

Weenusk First Nation Weenusk First Nation ( cr, ᐐᓈᐢᑯ ᐃᓂᓂᐗᐠ, italic=no (); unpointed: ᐧᐃᓇᐢᑯ ᐃᓂᓂᐧᐊᐠ) is a Cree First Nation band government in the Canadian province of Ontario. In September, 2007, its total registered population w ...

**(see also

) : Moose Cree * Abitibi River Cree (historical) ** Abitibiwinni First Nation (also

Algonquin Algonquin or Algonquian—and the variation Algonki(a)n—may refer to: Languages and peoples *Algonquian languages, a large subfamily of Native American languages in a wide swath of eastern North America from Canada to Virginia **Algonquin la ...

and

) **

Wahgoshig First Nation Apitipi Anicinapek Nation, formerly known as Wahgoshig First Nation, is an Algonquin Anicinape community, located near Matheson in Cochrane District in northeastern Ontario, Canada. In January 2008, the First Nation had 270 people registered wit ...

(also

and

) * Moose River Cree (historical) **

Brunswick House First Nation Brunswick House First Nation is an Ojibway-Cree First Nations in the Canadian province of Ontario, located in the Sudbury District, northeast of Sault Ste Marie, Ontario. The First Nation have reserved for themselves the Mountbatten 76A Indian R ...

Lovisek, 1999, "Western Woodland Cree" pp. 43–44. (also

) **

Chapleau Cree First Nation Chapleau Cree First Nation ( cr, ᔕᑊᓗ ᐃᓂᓂᐗᐠ, ''šaplo ininiwak'') is a Mushkegowuk Cree First Nation located by Chapleau Township, Sudbury District, Ontario, Canada. The First Nation have reserved for themselves the Chapleau 75 ...

Constance Lake First Nation Constance Lake First Nation ( ojs, ᑾᐣᐢᑕᐣᐢ ᓴᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ) is an Oji-Cree First Nations band government located on the shores of Constance Lake near Hearst, Cochrane District in northeastern Ontario, Canada. It is directly north ...

(also

and

) **

(also Swampy Cree) ** Matachewan First Nation (also

) **

Missanabie Cree First Nation Missanabie Cree First Nation ( cr, masinâpôy ininiwak, ᒪᓯᓈᐴᔾ ᐃᓂᓂᐗᐠ) is a "Treaty 9" Nation. The nation is named after Missinaibi River and Lake, around which the traditional territory of the nation is located. The name "Miss ...

(also

) **

Moose Cree First Nation The Moose Cree First Nation (formerly known as Moose Factory Band of Indians) ( cr, ᒨᓱᓂᔨ ᐃᓕᓕᐗᒃ, môsoniyi ililiwak) is a Cree First Nation band government in northern Ontario, Canada. Their traditional territory is on the west si ...

Taykwa Tagamou Nation Taykwa Tagamou Nation ( cr, ᑕᐟᑾ ᑕᑲᒪᐤ ᐃᓂᓂᐗᐠ tatkwa takamaw ininiwak, formerly known as New Post First Nation, is a Cree First Nations band government whose reserve community is located in the Cochrane District in Ontario, Can ...

* Lake Nipigon Cree (historical) * Piscotagami River Cree (historical) * Rainy Lake Cree (historical) *

Mishkeegogamang First Nation Mishkeegogamang First Nation is an Ojibway band government (First Nation) in the Canadian province of Ontario. Until 1993, the band was called the Osnaburgh First Nation, with various settlements at times being called New Osnaburgh, Osnaburgh Hous ...

(also

)

Ethnonyms

:Reflecting either

Swampy Cree The Swampy Cree people, also known by their autonyms ''Néhinaw'', ''Maskiki Wi Iniwak'', ''Mushkekowuk,'' ''Maškékowak'' or ''Maskekon'' (and therefore also ''Muskegon'' and ''Muskegoes'') or by exonyms including ''West Main Cree,'' ''Lowlan ...

''(O)maškêko(wak)'' "Swampy(-ies)", or

Odawa The Odawa (also Ottawa or Odaawaa ), said to mean "traders", are an Indigenous American ethnic group who primarily inhabit land in the Eastern Woodlands region, commonly known as the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada. They h ...

''(O)mashkiigo(wag)'' "Swampy(-ies)" *Mashkégous.—Petitot in Can. Rec. Sci., I, 48, 1884. *Maskègowuk.—Hutchins (1770) quoted by Richardson, Arct. Exped. II, 37, 1851. *Masquikoukiaks.—Prise de Possession (1671) in Perrot, Mémoire, 293, 1864. *Masquikoukioeks.—Prise de Possession (1671) in Margry, Déc., I, 97, 1875. *Meskigouk.—Long, Exped. St Peter's R., II, 151, 1824. *Mis-Keegoes.—Ross, Fur Hunters, II, 220, 1855. *Muskeg.--Hind. Red R. Exped., I, 112, 1860. *Muskeggouck.—West, Jour., 19, 1824. *Muskegoe.—Tanner, Narr., 45 1830. *Muskegoag.—Tanner, Narr., 315 1830. *Muskegons.—Galatin "A Synopsis of the Indian Tribes in North America", in ''Archæologia Americana : Transactions and Collections of the American Antiquarian Society'', II, 24, 1836. *Muskigos.—Maximillian, Trav., II, 28, 1841. *Musk-keeg-oes.—Warren (1852) in ''Minnesota Historical Society Collections'', V, 45, 1885. *Mustegans.—Hind, Labrador Penin., II, 16, 1863. *Mashkegons.—Belcourt (ca. 1850) in ''Minnesota Historical Society Collections'', I, 227, 1872. *Maskigoes.—Schoolcraft, ''Indian Tribes'', II, 36, 1852. *Muscagoes.—Harmon, Jour., 84, 1820. *Mus-conogee.—Schermerhorn (1812) in ''Massachusetts Historical Society Collections'', 2d s., II, 11, 1814. *Muscononges.—Pike, Exped., app. to pt. 1, 64, 1810. *Muskeags.—Schoolcraft. ''Indian Tribes'', VI, 33, 1857. *Muskagoes.—Harmon (1801) quoted by Jones, Ojebway Inds., 166, 1861. *Mus-ka-go-wuk.—Morgan. ''Systems of Consanguinity and Affinity of the Human Family'', 287, 1871. :Reflecting

''(O)maškêko-ininiw(ak)'' "Swamp People" *Mashkegonhyrinis.—Bacquerville de la Potherie, Hist. Am, I, 168, 1783. *Maskigonehirinis.—Dobbs, Hudson Bay, 25, 1744. *Miskogonhirinis.—Dobbs, Hudson Bay, 23, 1744. :Reflecting

''(O)mashkiigoo(g)'' "Swampy(-ies)" *Muskeegoo.—Jones, Ojebway Inds., 178, 1861. *Muskego Ojibways.—Warren (1852) in ''Minnesota Historical Society Collections'', V, 378, 1885. *Muskegoo.—''Canada. Department of Indian Affairs'' (common form). *Omaskekok.—Belcourt (ca. 1850) in ''Minnesota Historical Society Collections'', I, 227-8, 1885. *Omush-ke-goag.—Warren (1852) in ''Minnesota Historical Society Collections'', V, 33, 1885. *Omushke-goes.—Warren (1852) in ''Minnesota Historical Society Collections'', V, 85, 1885. :Reflecting a translation *Cree of the lowlands.—Morgan, ''Systems of Consanguinity and Affinity of the Human Family'', 287, 1871. *People of the Lowlands.—Morgan, ''Systems of Consanguinity and Affinity of the Human Family'', 287, 1871. *Savannas.—Chauvignerie (1836) in ''New York Documents of Colonial History'', IX, 1054, 1855. *Savanois.—Charlevoix, Nouv.Fr., 277, 1744. *Swampee.—Reid in Jour. Anthrop. Inst of G. Br., VII, 107, 1874. *Swampies.—M'Lean, Hudson Bay, II, 19, 1824. *Swampy Crees.—Franklin, Journ. to Polar Sea, 38, 1824. **Swampy Creek Indians.—Hind, Labrador Penin., I, 8, 1863 (for 'Swampy Cree Indians'). *Swampy Krees.—Keane in Stanford, Compend., 536, 1878. *Swampys.—Hind, Labrador Penin., I, 323, 1863. :Other *Big-Heads.—Donnelly in ''Canada. Department of Indian Affairs, Annual Report for 1883'', pt. 1, 10, 1884. *Coast Crees.—Back, Arct. Land Exped., app., 194, 1836. *Waub-ose.—Warren (1852) in ''Minnesota Historical Society Collections'', V, 86, 1885 (''Waabooz'' ('rabbit'): Ojibwe name, referring to their peaceful character; applied also to the Bois Forte Band).

Notes

References

*Ellis, Clarence Douglas. 1995. ''âtalôhkâna nêsta tipâcimôwina: Cree legends and narratives from the West Coast of James Bay.'' Text and translation. Edited and with a glossary by C. Douglas Ellis. Winnipeg: University of Manitoba Press. *Honigmann, John J. 1981. �
West Main Cree
” in June Helm, ed., ''The Handbook of North American Indians, Volume 6. Subarctic,'' pp. 217–230. Washington, D.C.: The Smithsonian Institution. *Lovisek, Joan A. 1999. "Aboriginals: Algonquians/Subarctic." Paul R. Magocsi, ed., ''Encyclopedia of Canada's Peoples''; 36–47. Toronto: Multicultural History Society of Ontario. *Lytwyn, Victor P. 2002. ''Muskekowuck Athinuwick: Original People of the Great Swampy Land''. *Pritzker, Barry. 1998. "Cree" in ''Native Americans: An Encyclopedia of History, Culture, and Peoples, Volume 1'' pp. 709–715 *Rhodes, Richard and Evelyn Todd. 1981. “Subarctic Algonquian languages.” in June Helm, ed., ''The Handbook of North American Indians, Volume 6. Subarctic,'' pp. 52–66. Washington, D.C.: The Smithsonian Institution.

External links

Mushkegowuk CouncilSwampy Cree Tribal Council
{{authority control First Nations in Manitoba Cree First Nations in Ontario