The language of the Métis Nation
Learning Michif
Now that Alicia's Red River Métis line is documented, this is the tongue of her ancestors. Michif is the heritage language of the Métis Nation — and learning even a little is a way of carrying the line forward.
What Michif is
Michif is a true mixed language, born at the Red River in the 1800s from the same union that created the Métis people themselves: it joins Plains Cree verbs with French nouns (with some Ojibwe/Saulteaux). That makes it almost unique in the world — most languages borrow words, but Michif fused two whole grammars.
There are a few varieties you'll see named:
Southern / Heritage Michif — Cree verbs + French nouns (the iconic Métis language)
Northern Michif — more Cree-based
Michif-French — a French dialect
Alicia's line runs through the Red River (St-Boniface / Ste-Anne, Manitoba), so Southern / Heritage Michif is the most fitting variety to learn. Michif is critically endangered — only a few hundred fluent speakers remain — so it's best learned with audio from fluent Métis speakers, which is exactly what the resources below provide.
Starter phrases
A handful of well-documented Heritage Michif greetings to begin with. Pronunciation is approximate — use the audio in the resources to get it right.
| Michif | Say it roughly | Meaning |
|---|
| Taanshi | TAWN-shee | Hello (literally "how") |
| Taanshi kiya? | TAWN-shee kee-YA | How are you? |
| Nimiyo-ayaan | nee-MEE-yo-ah-YAWN | I am well |
| Bon matin | bawn ma-TAN | Good morning |
| Bawn aprè-midi | bawn ap-ray mee-DEE | Good afternoon |
These are drawn from the Métis Nation of Ontario greetings lessons and the Michif Museum. The full vocabulary — numbers, family words, food, weather, and full sentences — is best learned in the resources below, where every entry has audio recorded by fluent speakers like Norman Fleury. I've kept this list to phrases I can verify, rather than guessing at spellings, out of respect for the language.
Your learning path
1
Start with greetings & family words — the Louis Riel Institute's Speaking Michif home-and-family modules and the Métis Nation of Ontario beginner lessons. Designed to be practised at home.
2
Build vocabulary with audio — the Virtual Museum of Métis History & Culture has 1,000+ words across 60+ exercises (greetings, numbers, months, food, weather), each with audio.
3
Take the structured course — Rupertsland Institute's free six-module Introduction to Michif course (hear, speak, read; Heritage and Northern dialects).
4
Practise daily on your phone — the Gabriel Dumont Institute's Heritage Michif To Go app, plus the 11,500-entry online Michif dictionary (audio by Norman Fleury).
Resources (all Métis-run, free)
Louis Riel Institute — Speaking Michif
Beginner modules · home & family
Printable lessons and modules built to teach families Michif at home.
louisrielinstitute.caVirtual Museum of Métis History & Culture
1,000+ words · 60+ audio exercises
Michif dictionary + lessons with audio by fluent speaker Norman Fleury.
metismuseum.caRupertsland Institute — Intro to Michif
Free 6-module online course
Self-paced; practise hearing, speaking and reading Heritage & Northern Michif.
rupertsland.orgGabriel Dumont Institute — Michif Resources
Dictionaries · books · the app
Online Michif dictionary (11,500+ entries) and the Heritage Michif To Go app.
gdins.orgMétis Nation of Ontario — Language Resources
Beginner → advanced activities
Greetings lessons, Michif-Fransè Scrabble, and more.
metisnation.orgLearnMichif
Greetings & basics
A simple online starting point for everyday Michif.
learnmichif.com
Michif belongs to the Métis Nation and its fluent Elders and speakers. This page is a respectful on-ramp that points to their own teaching resources — the real learning happens with their voices and communities. Once Alicia is a citizen, the Otipemisiwak Métis Government and local Métis associations often run language classes and culture camps too.