Sask. singer releases contemporary Cree language Christmas album

Falynn Baptiste, a Cree and Mtis woman from the Red Pheasant Cree Nation, Sask., has earlymemories of family singing in both Cree and English that have left lasting impressions.

She said she was blessed to livenext door to her grandmother.

"My late nhkomwas always singing, either it be through ceremony, powwow, or even just while she worked in the kitchen," she said.

"Music and Cree have always been a part of my life."

Now Baptisteis releasing aChristmas album in the Cree language, called A Cree Christmas.The eight song album includes songs like Silent Night, OHoly Night andRudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

"I have always been passionate about the language, in sharing the language and promoting the language," she said.

After doing some demos in previous years and posting them on YouTube, the response she got from listeners led her make an album of Christmas songs. Shewanted to make a contemporary Cree languagealbum that would appeal toyoungand old.

"It's very emotional music for me personally," said Deborah Charles, a fanof Baptiste's singing.

"It takes you back to a time with your parents or grandparents during Christmas, since some of them are not here any longer."

Charles saidit's nice to see a younglady knowing the Cree language. She saidBaptiste is often singing at local funerals and community events.

Currently Baptiste is on maternity leave from her position as a teacher. She saidhaving a child has heightened her sense of responsibility to keep her Cree language strong, not only with her own child but with those that listen to her music.

When she began the process of preparing the album, Baptiste went to language expert Solomon Rattfor help. Ratt is from Stanley Mission in northern Saskatchewan, andhas been an associate professor of the Cree language at the First Nations University in Reginafor 30years.

He helped with the translation and the written lyrics using standard Roman orthography (SRO). SRO isa standardizedsystemusing the English alphabet to represent Cree language.

"Falynn wants to write in SROand that is the way we encourage people to write," said Ratt.

"That kind of attitude is so good to hear, because a lot of times people will write Cree any old way they want.It can get frustrating for us teachers when we are trying to get the language going."

For Baptiste, getting the translation right was a priority, knowing that many people who are Cree language speakers would be listening to the songs and buying the album.

"There are so many people fighting to save the Cree language, teachers and advocates and first language speakers and knowledge keepers," saidBaptiste.

"You knowit really is worth fighting for."