This is the first major body of annotated texts in James Bay Cree, and a unique documentation of Swampy and Moose Cree (Western James Bay) usage of the 1950s and 1960s. Conversations and interviews with 16 different speakers include: legends, reminiscences, historical narratives, stories and conversations, as well as descriptions of technology. The book includes a detailed pronunciation guide, notes on Cree terms, informants' comments, dialect variations, and descriptions of cultural values and customs. The introduction describes and compares the various genres in traditional and popular culture. Cree and English, with full glosssary.

C. Douglas Ellis has made Cree the focal point of his studies since 1954. He is Professor Emeritus of Linguistics at McGill University, Montreal and currently Adjunct Research Professor in the School of Linguistics and Applied Language Studies at Carleton University, Ottawa. Doug Ellis lives in Ottawa.

C. Douglas Ellis' profile page

Simeon Scott was a resident of Fort Albany, Ontario. At the time these texts were recorded, he was in charge of a branch store of the Hudson's Bay Company and was nearing retirement. A native speaker of Swampy Cree, he also spoke considerable English.

Simeon Scott's profile page

Xavier Sutherland's profile page

Isaiah Sutherland's profile page

John Wynne's profile page

Joel Linklater's profile page

Silas Wesley's profile page

Hannah Wynne's profile page

Gabriel Kiokee's profile page

Andrew Faries' profile page

Sophie Gunner's profile page

James Gunner's profile page

Willie Frenchman's profile page

Hannah Loon's profile page

Ellen McLeod's profile page

John Carpenter's profile page

Cree Legends and Narratives from the West Coast of James Bay is a worthy addition to the publications of oral Cree texts, in the tradition of Leonard Bloomfield, Freda Ahenekew and H.C. Wolfart. It is of great value for ethnologists, linguists and, last but not least, the communities themselves.

Canadian Journal of Native Studies