This is Solomon Ratt. He teaches Cree language in the Y-dialect at the First Nations University of Canada and has been working there since 1986. He created a Facebook Group called, Cree Language Videos, where he posts videos of Cree language lessons such as: introductions; things you like to do; hobbies; days of the week; weather terms; and also traditional stories – stories of Wîsahkîcâhk. Since the creation of Cree Language Videos a few years ago, it has gathered over 3000 members.

Cree Language Videos started as a way to give students who were taking online/correspondence courses access to the Cree language lessons. As well, it is used as supplemental material for students wanting access to the Cree language after scheduled class times. Feedback for the videos is good because it is practical for reviewing Cree outside of the classroom. Students are able to watch the videos and see the Cree language written out – and are able to hear the language being spoken.

This social media option to access Cree language lessons is beneficial especially for those students who are not exposed to Cree in their everyday environments – where it would be easier to pick up the language. Carrying on this work on Cree Language Videos is important because it gives people, especially the younger generation, a chance to hear and see the language, since less and less is being taught in the home.

In a Cree language lesson video, Solomon may talk about an event, i.e. a social gathering, and teach the various types of verbs operating, various functions, and conjugation patterns.

Traditional stories in Cree have lessons on how to exist and survive in this world, how to get along with others, and the responsibilities people have to each other. It is important to hear the traditional stories in their language of origin because there are certain aspects, e.g. humour, that cannot be easily translated to English or other languages.

To Solomon, Indigenous education means to learn everything that he can about the world in which he lives, specifically, to learn from his surroundings – from the land and the people around him. His hopes for the future of Indigenous education is that more learning will be done out on the land. When he was in residential school, he did not get to participate in any traditional activities out on the land, so he says it is great to see schools getting involved in outdoor education and traditional activities. It is Solomon’s view that language can be brought in with traditional activities, as language cannot be separated from culture. There is hope that we can revive the language when we revive the traditions.

Cree Language Videos provides an avenue for people to review and learn the Cree language, in absence of an environment abundant with it.