Beginning Cree: mâci-nêhiyawêwin acts as a self-study aid--a much-needed resource in today's world where most students cannot speak Cree fluently. Designed as an introduction for Cree Y Dialect language learners. The Y Dialect speakers are known as Plains Cree and of the 49 Cree Nations in Saskatchewan 43 are Y Dialect. Basic grammar units and everyday vocabulary items guide the student through the building blocks of the language, and expansion drills and exercises reinforce lessons and prepare the student for further study. In eight chapters complete with exercise and workbook style sheets introduces students and learners to the basics of Cree including the vowels, consonants, and the standard Roman Orthography. Chapters 2 to 4 cover nouns, prepositions and pronouns, and animate intransitive verbs. Chapter 6 covers kinship terms; and the remaining chapters cover transitive inanimate verbs and transitive animate verbs. The background materials includes verb charts, conjugation patterns, vocabulary list, and an index. In the exercises, simple cartoon-like black and white sketches by Holly Martin lighten the mood and provide visual cues for the learner.