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Apisheesh: A Cree Learning Podcast

Apisheesh: A Cree Learning Podcast

By: Lenny Carpenter
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About this listen

 Apisheesh is a monthly interview podcast where Omushkego (Swampy Cree) host Lenny Carpenter shares his journey to learn his Cree language through interviews with fluent speakers and other resources. Lenny aims to understand the words of his late mooshoom (grandfather) whose Cree stories are preserved in audio recordings. Supported by the Indigenous Screen Office.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lenny Carpenter Language Learning Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Episode 5: Adrian Sutherland

    Episode 5: Adrian Sutherland
    Jan 15 2026
    In this episode, Lenny shares the Cree words for January, Happy New Year, and briefly discusses the Cree cycle of life. He talks about watching the Apple TV+ show Chief of War, a historical drama series featuring Indigenous Hawaiians before colonization and how they speak Ōlelo Hawaiʻi, the Indigenous Hawaiian language, in the show. He also talks about the CBC Indigenous article about the podcast published on Christmas Eve.Lenny shares his learning update, where he is using flashcards and the space repetition system as prescribed in the book Fluent Forever by Gabriel Wyner. He breaks down the system and how he is progressing.He speaks with Adrian Sutherland, a musician and newly minted author from Attawapiskat First Nation. Adrian shares his journey going out on the land, his first music performance, writing songs in Cree, and writing his first book, “The Work of Our Hands: A Cree Meditation on the Real World” which was just published. He shares a Cree lesson at the end.About Adrian Sutherland: Adrian is a roots-rocker-with-heart from the remote village of Attawapiskat in Ontario’s Far North. His melding of roots, rock, folk, and blues creates a signature sound and style all his own, drawing inspiration from his life, the land, and his Cree language and culture. Adrian earned JUNO nominations in 2022 and 2025, and won ‘Best Americana Album’ from the 2025 World Entertainment Awards in Los Angeles. His sophomore solo album Precious Diamonds was recorded in Nashville with GRAMMY-winner Colin Linden, and released in 2024. Named one of the ‘Top 100 Albums of 2024’ by CKUA Radio, it features two songs in Cree – marking the first time Adrian is making music in his first language. Lead single Notawe (Father) reached #1 on the internationally recognized Indigenous Music Countdown, and ranked in the ‘Top 100 Songs of 2023’ by CBC Music. Before his solo career, Adrian was the singer and songwriter for the band, Midnight Shine, releasing three albums. Adrian recently completed writing his first book for Penguin Random House Canada. “The Work of Our Hands: A Cree Meditation on the Real World” was released on December 30, 2025, and gives readers a glimpse into his extraordinary life in Attawapiskat. As one of the only professional recording artists who lives in an isolated fly-in community, Adrian carries first-hand insight and perspective on many of today’s most important issues facing First Nations. During this time of reconciliation, he is hopeful for Canadians to walk together in love and respect.https://adriansutherlandmusic.comhttps://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/671056/the-work-of-our-hands-by-adrian-sutherland/9780735241695I Am Not Afraid – Adrian Sutherland (2025)Kiyash – Adrian Sutherland (2024)Notowe (Father) – Adrian Sutherland (2023)Heart of Gold – Midnight Shine (2018)James Bay – Midnight Shine (2013)Cree terms shared at the start of the episode - Ashay kišêpâpîwâtakinam - it’s now January. kišêpâpîwâtakinam– Great shedding needle moon. Mino-oshki-pipoon – good new winter. In our culture, the new year starts in mikisiwi-peesim (eagle moon), or March, when siikwin (spring) is starting Eastern Swampy & Moose Cree Dictionary - https://dictionary.moosecree.atlas-ling.ca/#!/helpFluent Forever by Gabriel Wyner - https://fluentforeverbook.com625 Word List - https://blog.fluent-forever.com/appendix5/Spaced Repetition Resources - https://blog.fluent-forever.com/chapter2/Chief of War - https://tv.apple.com/ca/show/chief-of-war/umc.cmc.6ag0zq020ielwv7m83v8r4dkw Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    1 hr and 19 mins
  • Episode 4: Greg Spence

    Episode 4: Greg Spence
    Dec 18 2025

    Lenny describes his progress from reading and repeating Cree stories from a book (“atalohkana nesta tipacimowina or Cree Legends and Narratives: from the West Coast of James Bay”) and recordings. He also shares his venture into learning linguistics and research into language learning methods. Then he speaks with Greg Spence, a Cree expert originally from Fort Albany. Greg talks about learning music as a youth and starting the Spence Band, working as a Cree translator, Omushkego vs. inninew vs. anishnaabe as self-identifying terms, and the benefits of learning Cree syllabics.


    Lenny also discusses the podcast being featured in several media outlets in recent weeks and that he created a Substack for the podcast. Sign up to receive updates about episode drops and news directly to your email inbox. No registration required. apisheeshpodcast.substack.com


    About the guest:

    Greg Spence is a community organizer, educator, and musician based in Moose Factory. Originally from Fort Albany, Greg has decades of experience working as a Cree translator and teacher and continues to be consulted about the Cree language and culture. He founded and coordinated Cree Fest, an annual cultural festival hosted in different Mushkegowuk communities every summer for more than 20 years. Greg also plays bass and guitar and over the years has performed live across the region.


    About the host:

    Lenny Carpenter is a member of Attawapiskat First Nation who grew up in the James Bay community of Moosonee. He has a background in media having worked as a report/editor with Wawatay News, an intern at CBC Thunder Bay, a program manager at Journalists for Human Rights. He was most recently a Gladue Writer and Gladue Manager with Nishnawbe Aski Legal Services.


    Apisheesh is supported by the Indigenous Screen Office.


    Links to resources described:

    Atalohkana nesta tipacimowina or Cree Legends and Narratives: from the West Coast of James Bay

    Becoming Fluent: How Cognitive Science Can Help Adults Learn a Foreign Language by Richard Roberts and Roger Kreuz

    Fluent Forever: How to Learn Any Language Fast and Never Forget It by Gabriel Wyner

    How Language Works: How Babies Babble, Words Change Meaning, and Languages Live or Die by David Clear

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    1 hr and 24 mins
  • Episode 3: Robert Nakogee

    Episode 3: Robert Nakogee
    Nov 5 2025

    In this episode, host Lenny Carpenter announces that the podcast now has a website: https://www.apisheeshpodcast.ca/ where listeners can listen to and share the episodes, read bios, sign up for a newsletter, and find links to all of platforms and socials. He'll also be writing blogs. Listeners can leave reviews on the website which might be featured in a future episode. There is also a Cree Resource page on the website with links to resources to help learn Cree, including apps, online dictionaries and lessons, and a book.


    The book he shares is called atalohkana nesta tipacimowina or Cree Legends and Narratives: from the West Coast of James Bay. It has 68 stories, legends and narratives (stories) told by 16 Cree speakers from Moose Factory and Kashechewan recorded in the 1950s and 60s. The book has the stories in both Cree (in Roman orthography) and English side-by-side, and the recordings are available online at https;//www.spokencree.org. After not making much learning progress, he plans to use the book and recordings for the upcoming month.


    The guest this month is Robert Nakogee, chief of Fort Albany First Nation (and Lenny's cousin). Robert was raised in his home community of Fort Albany by his great-aunt and uncle Margaret and Joseph (Jojeep) Wheesk and completed his last two years of elementary school in Moosonee, Ont. He completed high school in Timmins, Ont., and returned to his community where he later entered politics, first as a band councillor for his First Nation before serving two terms as the deputy chief. In 2020, he was elected chief and served one term before voluntarily stepping away. He re-entered politics this year and was elected as chief of Fort Albany in October 2025 for his second term.


    Robert, or Bobby, talks about growing up in a house full of different generations and extended family, going to school outside his community, and how he entered politics. He also shares words of wisdom from Jojeep, the man who raised him.


    Lenny shares reflections on Robert's story and repeats some Cree phrases Robert shared and reiterates his plan to learn.


    Apisheesh: A Cree Learning Podcast is produced and hosted by Lenny Carpenter.

    Additional editing by Tyler Angeconeb

    Logo design by Robin Kioke.

    Goose call provided by my niece Harlow Carpenter.

    Music by Lenny Carpenter

    Have any questions, feedback, or resources to share? Submit a message on our website: www.apisheeshpodcast.ca or email us at apisheesh@gmail.com.

    Visit our website to listen to past episodes, view guest bios and Cree learning resources

    Apisheesh is supported by the Indigenous Screen Office.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    58 mins
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