Cree education and culture was at the forefront in Maskwacis last week as the Nipisihkopahk Secondary School held a special elders and youth gathering.
The event was held from Sunday, June 19 to Wednesday, June 22 with a powwow and treaty workshops. Teepees were set up on the school grounds with elders and experts passing on their wisdom to students. For Samson Cree Chief Kurt Buffalo, the event was to celebrate what the school has accomplished over the year, which includes Maskwacis history and culture.
“It’s really a great day to be Indigenous,” said Buffalo.
One of the challenges for First Nations communities is keeping their culture after having to survive many years under the residential school system. Despite that and other challenges, the youth and elders gathering is intended to fill the gaps from the inter-generational trauma because of those residential schools.
“To ensure that the children out here get that opportunity that their grandparents didn’t receive,” said Buffalo.
The gathering is expected to bring traditions and protocols to youths so that they too can pass on their culture to their children.
“The education system isn’t perfect. We’re still developing our curriculum,” said Buffalo. “So we’re looking at ways we can make it better.”
He is pleased with the developments that are occurring each day in Maskwacis. From the federal government accepting the UN Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples to Cree becoming the official language of Maskwacis, Buffalo says these are steps in the right direction.
“We really don’t know what’s going to happen other than the government’s listening,” said Buffalo.
He is pleased to see action from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau along with the declarations being made.
“I notice a difference in the general population. They’re starting to see what we’ve been talking about,” said Buffalo.
Now when Buffalo sees a political leader or other stakeholders, there is also acknowledgement of the treaty area. It furthers steps to working together.
“Overall I would say, not just Canadians, but human beings in general, I think the message is that we need to start understanding and respecting each other’s differences,” Buffalo added.
“We each come with our own different set of values and our different ways we praise our Creator. And those unique differences is what makes Canada so special because for the most part we respect each other,” said Buffalo.
That being said, he added that it’s important to remember the lessons from the past.