2 
the people spoke che same mixed dialect of Cree and Saulteaux as was 
spoken throughout the greater part of Island lake, whereas others spoke 
pure Cree. Those who spoke the mixed dialect had migrated to Gods 
lake from farther east. It is indicated in appendices II and V which these 
are; and in table V, page 28, the two groups are treated separately. 
At Oxford House Cree only was spoken. Some, therefore, of the 
Indians examined during this investigation spoke pure Saulteaux, some 
spoke pure Cree, and others spoke a mixture of the two. 
Figure 1. Index map showing positions of Island lake, Gods lake, and Oxford House, 
northeastern Manitoba. 
Marriage. Though for the most part it is the custom of these Indians 
to marry their cousins, they nevertheless adhere to the tradition (though 
they are apt to deny it) of not marrying into their own totem. Since a 
girl on marrying assumes her husband’s totem, any children she has may 
and do marry her brother's children, for in so doing a marriage between 
different totems is effected; but the children of brothers do not marry 
each other, neither do the children of sisters marry each other, but bro- 
ther’s children marry sister’s children and the parents arrange the marri- 
ages.^ 
*Though the marriage of cousin with cousin is traditional, the tradition is not invariably followed today, for 
a number of men and women bad brought wives or husbands, as the case might be, from other bands. One 
extremely old man 1 met in these regions some years ago had two wives. 
