CULTURE AND LANGUAGE REVITALIZATION

Revitalizing the Plains Cree Language at 2024 “Keep Our Language Alive” Conference

The XYE Cree Speakers’ Society was founded in 2021 by Milton Tootoosis, a nêhiyaw of the Poundmaker Cree Nation in Treaty Six Territory, with the goal to revitalize the Plains Cree language and promote the teachings of Cree Elders and traditional speakers.

This learning process often challenges conventional Western education and requires a commitment to reconciling both worlds.

In May 2023, the Society hosted the “Keep Our Language Alive” Conference, which brought together Cree language teachers, instructors, and advocates from across Cree communities. The feedback from the conference indicated a strong desire to continue building opportunities for learning and networking. Attendees expressed a sense of responsibility to serve their communities by promoting the Cree worldview through language.

Thanks to a grant from the Indigenous Reconciliation Fund (IRF), the Society can cover key expenses for the 2024 conference, including advertising and marketing, entertainment, honoraria for Elders and teachers, cultural costs, translation services, and merchandise.

The 2024 pimācīhitatān nēhiyawēwin: Keep Our Language Alive Conference will also include a pre-conference session designed to support participants interested in aligning Cree language learning outcomes with the Saskatchewan Provincial Curriculum. This initiative will further strengthen the ties between Cree culture and mainstream education, providing a pathway for future integration.

Diocese of Saskatoon

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