Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 8, 2026

Moose Cree

The Moose Cree people (Cree: Mōsonī or Ililiw) are also known as Moosonee (Monsoni), and together with the Eastern Swampy Cree also known as Central Cree, West James Bay Cree or West Main Cree. They speak the l-dialect of the Cree language.

Last revised
Jul 8, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
Length
236 w
Citations
Source
ililîw
"human being"
Personililîw ᐃᓕᓕᐤ
Peopleililîwak ᐃᓕᓕᐗᒃ
Languageililîmowin ᐃᓕᓖᒧᐎᓐ
Hand Talk
Countryililîwaskiy ᐃᓕᓕᐗᔅᑭᔾ

The Moose Cree people (Cree: Mōsonī or Ililiw) are also known as Moosonee (Monsoni), and together with the Eastern Swampy Cree also known as Central Cree, West James Bay Cree or West Main Cree. They speak the l-dialect of the Cree language.

The Moose Cree were first noted in Jesuit Relations for 1671, along the shores of James Bay and along the Moose River. On the Ochagach map (c. 1728), they (as "Monsonnis") were noted as far inland as the Rainy Lake region.

First Nations

External links