Cree Literacy Network

Celebrating 10 Years

(And not a moment too soon!)

It was a wonderful surprise in February 2021, to discover a tiny video clip from the official launch of the Cree Literacy Network that featured Dr Freda Ahenakew and her dear friend Cecilia Masuskapoe: two beautiful Elders, now departed. (Scroll down to watch and smile as they sign books together while Barry Ahenakew sings them an honour song).

Its date stamp was an even bigger surprise: 15 September 2010. Suddenly, out of the blue, the Cree Literacy Network was 10 years old, and our 10th year was already half over!

So here we are at last, announcing our 10th Anniversary (without even a whisper about “Indian time”). Given the current complexities of in-person meetings (well, and the rather late date), we’re marking the occasion with a major web-design overhaul, to be launched very soon. Its theme – nipiy kipimâcihikonaw / ᓂᐱᐩ ᑭᐱᒫᒋᐦᐃᑯᓇᐤ / Water Keeps us Alive – is drawn from the background, an original painting by artist Dawn Marie Marchand, used with permission. To us, the background evokes the beauty of water, fundamental to life itself. We hope it helps us bring new life and health to the Cree language as well.

So sincere thanks to everyone who has joined us here, to visit, read and listen; to follow; to share original content; or, to donate to help us continue this work we love.

kinanâskomitin – ᑭᓇᓈᐢᑯᒥᑎᐣ – I am grateful to you

kinanâskomitinân – ᑭᓇᓈᐢᑯᒥᑎᓈᐣ – We are grateful to all of you!

I hope we can find even better ways to help support one another in Cree language resurgence through the decade ahead!

Stay tuned for the new-look website with lots of improved functionality (at least, that’s the plan). It will launch very soon. In the mean time, I hope you enjoy the video!

Our launch was planned jointly with the launch of Cecilia Masuskapoe’s book, hosted in Saskatoon by SIIT, and emceed by Elder Barry Ahenakew (who can be heard in the video, singing an honour song). A few additional photos of the event are included below.