Cree Literacy Network

To those who never knew her, it may seem surprising how many people continue to express their love and respect for the late Dr Freda Ahenakew and her legacy, even 15 years after her passing. Among her large immediate family, among the many others she chose to mother, and among those she infected with her passion for Cree language revitalization, her memory is ever fresh. 

On Saturday, 7 March 2026, the documentary written and directed by her granddaughter, Tristin Greyeyes, premieres at Vancouver’s GEMFest (follow this link to a PDF festival program). 

Here’s the synopsis from the National Film Board, which provided early financial support through its FAP:

A Cree Approach documents the life of Freda Ahenakew, a Nehiyaw (Cree) woman, who dedicated her life to saving the once-dying Nehiyawewin language, while providing for her 12 children and others who came into her care. She was fortunate to grow up with fluent speakers and her culture despite the efforts of the country to take the “Indian” out of the children. When she noticed that her children were struggling to speak or understand Nehiyawewin (Plains Cree), she began work on creating a foundation of written structures for an oral language called “Cree Language Structures: A Cree Approach” as her master’s thesis. This work went on to be published – and reprinted 13 times and was instrumental in saving the Cree language from extinction. Produced with the assistance of the NFB’s FAP program.

I am frequently amazed (but never really surprised) at the number of 21st-century Cree Language Warriors who legimately claim connection with Freda, as students, or as students of those students. I am grateful for the sense of wâhkôhtowin, kinship, that is carried in those connections. 

This Cree Literacy Network of ours is based on connections. So many of them lead back to late Freda herself. If you – as a language proponent – had a connection you’d like to acknowledge and share, please feel free to drop a comment here.