Episode 5: Adrian Sutherland

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.com

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/671056/the-work-of-our-hands-by-adrian-sutherland/9780735241695

I 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/#!/help

Fluent Forever by Gabriel Wyner - https://fluentforeverbook.com

625 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

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