I was a little slow to remember I had my camera February 16, and I missed getting a shot of the whole group over brunch at Edmonton’s Continental Inn to talk about developing and sharing Cree language resources through the Cree Literacy Network. Absent from the photo, but very much present in person (earlier) were: Mary Cardinal Collins, Ray Cardinal, Les Skinner, Caylie Gnyra, Angela Coppola, Dawn Marie Marchand and Naomi McIlwraith. I am humbled at the passion and commitment that each of these individuals brings to their work with Cree, and deeply grateful for their willingness to accept me as a partner in their hopes.
I hope that some of them will manage to gather again, whether I’m in town or not. We chose the Continental Inn for our meeting because Dolores Sand says she always runs into some elders there, and it was a favourite place to stay for her late uncle and aunt David and Grace Ahenakew (so it might have a little friendly ancestral vibe!) Some of us were also acutely aware of the absence of our dear late Donna L. Paskemin, who would have added so much to our fun.