Cree School Board's Department of Cree Programs, in partnership with New Paths of Education, is excited to launch 42 videos from the Iyiyiuwayihtimuwin / Iinuuweyhtamuwin - Elder and Traditional Knowledge Keeper Teachings Video Project!
The project was designed to capture, preserve, and create a collection of traditional teachings of Cree elders from nine Cree communities in northern Quebec.
In February 2023, Cree School Board travelled to the communities to honour the Elders and Traditional Teachers who participated in the project. "We showed the videos in their communities," said Theresa Kakabat-Georgekish, Coordinator of Cree Programs, during an interview with CSB Check-In, "we had a feast for them and presented them with a gift."
With the support of Cree Programs, 14 lesson plans and materials were created by Cree consultants to engage teachers and students in the traditional teaching-learning process after they watched the videos together. "All Cree Language and Culture teachers were invited to attend the community events," said Judy Washipabano, Coordinator of New Paths for Education, "to show them the lesson plans associated to each video."
The videos will be used as educational tools for classrooms in our communities. The videos are also available to Eeyou Istchee and the rest of the world.
"It's a part of decolonizing education," said Chairperson Dr. Sarah Pash,
"and it's a part of doing education in our own way."
In September 2019, the project was organized to film the Elders and Knowledge Keepers, which happened on January 11th, 2020, and ended on February 21st, 2020. "We thankfully finished touring and recorded 42 interviews before COVID hit Canada," said Judy.
The capture of the sacred teachings from our Cree Elders, the knowledge keepers and the root of this project, will ensure the survival of our oral histories and be passed down from generation to generation.
To find the videos, you can visit the Traditional Teachings page on our website.
