Family members of the late Colin Charles spoke to attendees at an event on Wednesday. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

learning tool

‘A historic day’: Colin Charles Cree Dictionary redeveloped and released

Feb 9, 2023 | 4:00 PM

The release of the Colin Charles Cree Dictionary was celebrated Wednesday at a gathering at Kitsaki Hall.

“Today is a historic day. This is really a historic moment in our history with the Lac La Ronge Indian Band to be able to have our own dictionary in the ‘th’ language,” Lac La Ronge Indian Band chief Tammy Cook-Searson told the approximately 100 attendees.

“His children, his grandchildren, his great-grandchildren are here tonight with us. It’s so amazing and I’m looking forward to what this dictionary is going to do in our communities.”

The original dictionary was created using a typewriter in the 1970s by the late Colin Charles, who was a curriculum developer at the time, along with Keith Goulet, a Cree consultant. In 2015, redevelopment work was started by Minnie McKenzie, who did the typesetting, layout, and cross-checking to ensure the words were spelled right.

The redeveloped dictionary is printed in two volumes with one being Cree to English and the other English to Cree. The original dictionary was used for many years as a resource tool for teachers and students, and the re-released dictionary is expected to do the same.

Riderville

Now for the Hard Part

Dec 10, 2025

Grey Cup!!!

Everything you wanted and more

Nov 21, 2025

open house

Surplus forecasted for 2026 La Ronge operating budget

Nov 17, 2025

“We did not know how impactful his project was in preserving the Cree language and its use in many classrooms gave (and continues to give) so many generations the chance to learn the language,” a statement from family members Karen Sanderson and Regina Poitras reads.

Minnie McKenzie was honoured for her work redeveloping the dictionary into a book form. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

“In the age of technology and adaptations to learning, the Cree dictionary was innovative, ground-breaking, and iconic, a learning tool for teachers and a reference for the Cree language in its simplest form. There are many reasons Colin is remembered with fondness and respect; this dictionary is only one.”

McKenzie explained although she did a lot of work redeveloping the dictionary, she wants to ensure Charles is honoured for all the work he did in the past. She also noted plans for the dictionary don’t stop with just the republishing of it.

“Moving forward our vision is to have an online dictionary where people can just type in an English word and the Cree word will appear,” McKenzie said. “That’s the next step for the dictionary. There will also be a voiceover on how to pronounce the words.”

Twenty copies were prepared for Wednesday’s release of the Colin Charles Cree Dictionary and they were distributed to family members and as gifts. Copies will eventually be available at Lac La Ronge Indian Band schools and will be available to the public for purchase.

–

derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @saskjourno