Since 1993, the Indspire Awards have represented the highest honour the Indigenous community bestows upon its own achievers. To those of us who’ve met him, and sung his songs, Brian MacDonald of Onion Lake, Saskatchewan is a choice worthy of celebration every day. His award was given in the category of Culture, Heritage, & Spirituality.
From the Indspire website, we share this citation, beginning with a quote from Brian himself:
“It is important that first and foremost a language gives a person pride, identity, self-respect, and confidence. Without the language, you become incomplete as a Cree person, your spirit has to be allowed to develop with the language…The fight to retain the language is ongoing.”
For over 40 years, Brian MacDonald has been instrumental in preserving and revitalizing the Cree language, ensuring that multiple generations of Indigenous youth have been reclaiming their cultural heritage. A day school survivor, MacDonald trained as a Cree language teacher in James Smith Cree Nation and then taught nêhiyawêwin at two day schools; in 1989, he obtained a B.Ed. from the University of Saskatchewan’s Indigenous Teacher Education Program.
In 1978, MacDonald began to sing and record Cree songs. In 1980, he and a group of students recorded 13 songs which are still used today as a foundational resource: his groundbreaking Cree Songbook, which garnered him an Indigenous Achievement Award at the 2022 Saskatchewan Music Awards. The Songbook is used in Cree education nationwide, from elementary to post-secondary classes.
Dreaming of a day when there would be a Cree immersion program in Onion Lake, MacDonald began to work on curriculum development in the late 1990s and, from 1999-2002, became the Director of Education in Onion Lake. In 2005, he co-founded the Kihew Waciston Cree Immersion School with local leadership, educating the next generation and focusing on language retention, spoken language, and Cree identity. He ultimately became the school’s principal and continues to serve the community as a cultural advisor.
Click here to find some of the wonderful content that Brian MacDonald allows us to share here!
