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Story Topic: Community

Community

Rose Pacquette on the Dene Language in Fond du Lac, Saskatchewan

Posted on March 12, 2019 by Christine Fiddler

Revitalizing Dene language, culture, and identity through language reclamation in Fond du Lac.

Retired educator, Rose Pacquette, discusses the importance of reclaiming Dene culture and identity by learning the Dene language. Pacquette has witnessed the loss of Dene language in her community, and with the loss of language, Dene culture has been replaced by English and social media. She has been a teacher in her community, Fond Du Lac, Saskatchewan for many years and she stresses that language is the foundation of having a strong cultural identity, which is why it is crucial to teach Dene to younger generations. The Dene Nation needs to be reclaimed and the Dene people need to know the cultural traditions, their worldview, and the history of their people in order to be proud of their cultural identity. For Dene people, Indigenous education should reflect Dene culture, language, and traditions.

Grandmothers for Indigenous Child-Birthing

Posted on by Tina Trombley

As an Indigenous child-birthing advocate, Leslie Anne Wilson supports women and families in Saskatchewan.

Leslie Anne Wilson is a Nakota-Cree woman of the White Bear people. Wilson discusses the need for an Indigenous birthing network and she works proactively to instill an Indigenous midwifery and doula initiative in Saskatchewan. This initiative intends to reclaim Indigenous knowledge and traditional ways of birthing and parenting. She explains, women are the backbone of families and they need support. Wilson brings together teachings from grandmothers about birthing and womanhood for women to become empowered mothers. We must take care of our women because they are the ones caring for our children. It is integral to our development that we learn experientially off of the land and take care of the Earth for future generations.

On The Land Learning, Old Crow Yukon

Posted on by Dene Basil

Bridging the western educational world with local First Nation culture and traditions .

In this interview Francis Ross talks about the on the land learning program in Old Crow Yukon. This program is designed to achieve educational curriculum in a First Nation lens. This program fully utilizes local First Nation knowledge, culture, and traditions and fuses it with current western education curriculum. The approach allows students to become more comfortable by learning with familiarity using Fist Nations tools, methods and ways of life to meet educational goals. This program creates a bridge between the two worlds many First Nation people experience as a hardship.

Baggage Activity: An Exercise in Indigenous and non-Indigenous Reconciliation

Posted on March 8, 2019 by Don McCaskill

This video depicts an activity designed by Theresa Benedict, a graduate from Indigenous Studies at Trent University. The exercise involves two stages. First, the group divides into a small group of Indigenous people and another small group of non-Indigenous people to brainstorm each group’s perceptions of what they bring into a relationship – the “baggage” […]

This video depicts an activity designed by Theresa Benedict, a graduate from Indigenous Studies at Trent University. The exercise involves two stages. First, the group divides into a small group of Indigenous people and another small group of non-Indigenous people to brainstorm each group’s perceptions of what they bring into a relationship – the “baggage” that they carry. The two groups then come together to compare the baggage they are bringing into a relationship.

This exercise is an excellent way to explore the differences between Indigenous and non-Indigenous perspectives on reconciliation and discuss how and whether those differences can be overcome.

PLEASE NOTE: Themes and topics discussed in this exercise may be upsetting for some people. Viewer and participation discretion is advised.

This video was taken on November 9th, 2018 at Trent University in Peterborough, Ontario. The activity was undertaken by a group of Trent students; however, the exercise is designed for any group to provide insights into the nature of tensions in reconciliation.

The original class in which the “Baggage” exercise was developed included Theresa Benedict, Hilary Hodgins, Juliana LeSage, Robin Linn, Lauren MacLachlan, Taylor McDonald, Beverley Morgan, Victor Parker, Rashawn Pershad, Scott Somerville, and seven other Trent students enrolled in the Alliances course (INDG 4050) in 2017.

The first part of the video shows the exercise. The second part contains excerpts from three interviews: Theresa Benedict (Activity Designer), Robin Linn (participant), and Julianna LeSage (participant).

PLEASE NOTE: The audio quality changes in this video when the speaker is not wearing a lapel microphone.

Aakoota-kaawaapaamittin: The Michif Language

Posted on March 6, 2019 by Laura Forsythe

A grassroots community organization focused on the revitalization of (Southern) Michif and other Indigenous languages spoken by the Métis and their kin.

The Master-Apprentice Program for Michif at Prairies to Woodlands Indigenous Language Revitalization Circle uses one-on-one home and community based immersion techniques to teach Michif language and Métis culture. The Program pairs speakers and learners. Apprentices in the program go grocery shopping with master language-keepers and in time use Michif in every day life. Verna DeMontigny says Michif is a living language, constantly changing; she and other language-keepers gather at least once a year to formulate new words. They consider terms from English, French, and what they call vrai Cree; they consider terms already used by Michif speakers. Verna DeMontigny was interviewed just before the doors opened at the Métis Pavilion. Towards the end of the interview, you can see people coming in to share traditional music, dance, food, and laughter. The Pavilion is sponsored by the Manitoba Manitoba Métis Federation – Southwest Region (http://www.southwestmmf.ca/) and is part of the Westman Multicultural Festival in Brandon Manitoba. This year it was held from January 31 to February 2, 2019. If you have a chance to go in the future, try the rice pudding.

Proud Métis

Posted on by Kaitlyn Walcheske

Cheryll Welke shares about her community involvement volunteering in schools by talking about her Métis culture and identity.

Cheryll Welke volunteers in classrooms in High Level, Alberta to engage with students through the sharing of moose meat and bannock and talking about the significance of Métis contribution to Canadian society. Welke wants Métis youth to be proud of who they and understand how much Métis people have contributed to the development of Canada.

Aurora College-Inuvik: Student Life and Wellness

Posted on by Jiah Dzentu

Aurora College’s Inuvik campus has two large McPherson tents where a variety of activities take place. Elementary schools, high schools, Elders, and community members use this space. Some activities include medicine walks, fish camps, and story-telling.

Aurora College’s Inuvik campus has two large McPherson tents where a variety of activities take place. Elementary schools, high schools, Elders, and community members use this space. Some activities include medicine walks, fish camps, and story-telling.

Principal, Dene Tha’ Community School

Posted on by Pam Greene

The Principal of the Dene Tha Community School, Carlito Somera, discusses the school’s commitment to holding fall and winter Cultural Camps for students in grades 4-12.

Carlito Somera is the Principal of the Dene Tha Community School located in Treaty 8, in the community of Chateh, Alberta, northwest of High Level. Somera discusses the Dene Tha’s Cultural Camps offered both in the fall and winter. During the fall camp, students from Grades 4-12 attend the Cultural Camp held over a five day period. There are many academic outcomes that are attached to the Cultural Camps. High school students earn and gain credits as part of the curriculum.

This land-based learning portion of the curriculum includes the Dene language and culture. With the leadership and support of local Dene hunters and language specialists, students learn how to prepare, cut, and dry meat. Students also participate in other cultural activities such as berry picking, willow gathering, storytelling, and playing traditional hand games. In the winter, the Cultural Camp is held at Bistcho Lake. Students travel by vehicle on ice roads to the summertime fly-in fishing location and stay in cabins during their visit. Some of the cultural activities taught are how to ice fish.

Community Elder Perspective – Peter Cardinal

Posted on by Pam Greene

Indigenous education is important, not only for those who carry on traditional ways, but for Indigenous lawyers and politicians who would be better able to advocate for Indigenous peoples.

Peter Cardinal is an Elder from the Tallcree First Nation and has experience attending a Separate Day School. He shares his experience of going to a Day School and the impact of trying to learn English as a Cree person. Cardinal is an advocate for attending school to attain an education. He has presented at the school in High Level to share his knowledge, experience, and his passion for playing the fiddle. He stresses the importance of education in making life choices and hopes that hearing him share his experience works towards healing. Cardinal enjoys meeting students and sharing stories and music. He explained that the younger students ask a few questions and are really interested in his fiddle playing.

Innu Mukutan à Ekuanishit

Posted on March 5, 2019 by Catherine Charest

Ce programme est dédié aux hommes de 18 ans et plus. Le responsable est Louis Lalo et les activités se déroulent chez le responsable. This story is not available in English. Please select another language option.

Ce programme est dédié aux hommes de 18 ans et plus. Le responsable est Louis Lalo et les activités se déroulent chez le responsable.

This story is not available in English. Please select another language option.