Hug-a-Tree and Survive is an AdventureSmart program that helps lost children survive in the woods. It teaches children how not to become lost in the woods, and what to do should they become lost. And while this is incredibly important on its own, what’s even better (from our point of view) is that videos and print resources are also offered in Woodlands- and Plains Cree, thanks to members of the Search and Rescue Saskatchewan Association of Volunteers (SARSAV) who supported translation of the videos in 2023, through “Enhancement of SAR Capacity and Training with Indigenous Engagement and Integration in Saskatchewan and Beyond.”
Here’s how Hug-A-Tree explains itself:
Hug-A-Tree and Survive is a program designed to bring into your family, classroom, guide or scout unit, youth group, or any other community group interested in teaching kids about being safe.
If a child should become lost in the woods, hugging a tree can help them stay safe, and be found. Staying near a tree offers some protection from the elements, and keeps lost children in the same place, which makes it easier for searchers to find them.
In addition to the videos, AdventureSmart also produced Cree language colouring books and other resources (adding y- and th-dialects to English and French).
Here’s the direct link to the complete resource collection, provided by SARVAC National Prevention Coordinator Rick Power (to whom we send our thanks!)
For Woodlands Cree (th-dialect), translation is provided by Solomon Ratt, whom you’ll immediately recognize in the video.
| SRO y-dialect | English | |
|---|---|---|
| âkwaskitin mistik êkwa pimâtisi | HUG A TREE AND SURVIVE | |
| “âkwaskitin mistik ikwa paspî” ôma natonâkêwin ikwa paspîhowin atoskêwin. ka-kiskinwahamâhcik ôki awâsisak nistam kâ-ayamihcikêcik isko niyânan kâ-ispihtisicik ta-kiskinwahamahcik: | “Hug-a-Tree and Survive” is a Search and Rescue program. It is aimed at children from kindergarten to grade 5 with the goal of teaching them: | |
| 1 | tânisi êkâ ta-wanisihkik sakâhk nôhcimihk | How not to become lost in the woods |
| 2 | kîkwây ta-itôtahkik kîspin ê-wanisihkik | What to do if they do become lost |
| 3 | tânisi êkâ ta-mâyinikêcik | How not to come to harm |
| 4 | tânisi ta-kî-isi-wîcihâcik onatonâkêwa ta-miskâkocik | How they can help searchers find them |
| ôma masinahikan tipêyihtamikow: | THIS BOOK BELONGS TO: | |
| Page 1 | John êkwa owâhkômâkana takopayiwak kâ-mâwaci-miywêyihtahkik kapêsiwinihk. | John and his family arrive at their favorite campsite in the woods. |
| Page 2 | John ôhtâwiya mânokêyiwa ikwa okâwiya ati-kwayâcihtâyiwa mîcisowinis. wîhtamawêwak Johna êkâ ta-kwâhtohtêyit. | John’s dad sets up the camper and his mom starts to fix lunch. They tell John not to go far. |
| Page 3 | John kiskêyihtam êkâ ta-kî-pêyako-kwâhtohtêt êkwa ta-kî-wîhtamawât awiya itê kâ-wî-itohtêt, mâka pîhtaw nânihkisiw ta-papâmi-nitawaskêt. | John knows he should not go off alone and should always tell someone where he is going, but he just can’t wait to start exploring. |
| Page 4 | John môyêyihtam ahpô îtikwê ê-wanisihk êkwa nama kîkway nisitawinam. mâci-tâh-têpwâtêw okâwiya êkwa ôhtâwiya. | Suddenly, John realizes that he is lost and nothing looks familiar. He begins to yell for mom and dad. |
| Page 5 | John sêkisiw mâka kiskisiw êkâ ta-osâmi-mâkwêyihtahk. ta-kî-âkwaskitinât mistikwa êkwa êkota ta-kisâcît. | John is afraid but remembers that he should not panic. He should “Hug-a-Tree” and stay put. |
| mistik ana kitôtêm. | A tree is your friend. | |
| Page 6 | John ati-kawaciw. postasâkêw êkwa kîsônisiw otayânisa ohci. | John becomes cold. He puts his jacket on and tucks in his clothes. |
| John wacistonihkêw nîpiya êkwa watihkwana ohci êkota ta-apit. kiskisiw otakwanahon êkwa wêwêkinisow êwako-ohci ta-kîsôsit êkâ ta-sâpopît. | John builds a nest of leaves and branches to sit on. He remembers his emergency shelter and wraps it around him to stay warm and dry. | |
| Page 7 | pisiskiwak kostâcihtâkosiwak kâ-tipiskâk mâka namôya kinôhtî-mâyi-tôtâkwak. | Animals make scary sounds at night but even big animals don’t want to hurt you. |
| John pôtâtam opôtâcikan êkwa têpwâtam anihi pêhtâkosiwina kâ-sêkihikot. | John blows his whistle and yells at the noises that scare him. | |
| Page 8 | John kiskêyihtam onîkihikwa poko isi ê-itôtamiyit ta-nitonâkot. | John knows his parents are doing everything they can to find him. |
| Page 9 | ta-wîcihât onatonâkêwa ta-miskâkot. John nâh-nâtwânam miscikos ta-oyastât ê-misâyik “X” ahpô asiniya ta-oyâhât ta-osîhtât ê-misâyik “SOS.” | To help the searchers find him, John could break branches off trees to make a big “X” or put rocks together to make a large “SOS”. |
| Page 10 | ta-kî-osîhtamâsow mîna atosa miscikosa ohci ta-itwahâyit mistikwa ita kâ-apit. êkwa mîna ta-kî-pimisin ta- misikitêhisot ispîhk pêhtâhki cowêhkanâpisîsi-pimihâkan. | He could also make an arrow pointing to his tree with a stick. He could lay down to make himself big when he hears the helicopter. |
| Page 11 | onatonâkêwak, cowêhkanâpisîsi-pimihâkana, omâtâhiwêwak, êkwa onatonâkê-atimwak nitonawêwak Johna. | Search and rescue responders, helicopters, trackers, and search dogs are looking for John. |
| Page 12 | John pêhtawîw onatonâkêwa êkwa wîhtamawêw ita kâ-ayât ê-pôtâtahk nistwâw opôtâcikan êkwa asici ê-wâstinamawât otakwanahon ohci. | John hears the searchers and lets them know where he is by blowing three times on his whistle and by waving his emergency shelter. |
| Page 13 | onatonâkêwak miskawêwak Johna êkwa nitawâpênikêwak kîspin ê-miywâyât êkwa itohtahêwak onîkihikomâwa. | The searchers find John and check to see if he is alright and bring him back to his parents. |
| Page 14 | John onîkihikwa cîhkêyihtamiyiwa ta-wâpamâcik. John paspîw ayisk ê-kî-kakêhtawâtisit. | John’s parents are very happy to see him. John is safe because he used his head. |
| Page 15 | nêwo wiyasiwêwina | 4 Rules |
| 1 | wîhtamawik okîsohpikiwak itê kâ-wî-itohtêyan. | Tell an adult where you are going. |
| 2 | âkwaskitin mistik êkwa kisâcî êkota. | Hug-A-Tree and stay put. |
| 3 | kîsôhisow êkaw êkâwiya sâpopê. | Keep warm and dry. |
| 4 | wîcihik onatonâkêwak ta-miskawiskik, naskwêwasihik têpwâtiskwâwi. | Help searchers by answering their calls. |
| Page 16 | wîcihik onatonâkêwak ta-miskawâcik Johna. | HELP THE SEARCHERS FIND JOHN |
| QUIZ | ||
| 1 | pâmwayês kâ-nitawi-môcikihtâyan nohcimihk, nîkân | Before starting your adventure in the woods, you should always |
| 2 | kîspin wanisiniyan êkâwiya osâmi-mâkwêyihta. kikiskêyihtên tânisi ta-itôtaman, têpiyâhk | If you should become lost, try not to panic. You know what to do, just |
| 3 | kâ-kîsôsinisiyan êkwa kâ-sakwâskwahaman kitayânisa êkwa kâ-wacistonihkêyan nîpiya êkwa miscikosa ohci kika-wîcihikon. | Tucking in and zipping up your clothes and building a nest with leaves and branches will help you |
| 4 | kikâwiy êkwa kôhtâwiy ta-miywêyihtamwak, namôya ta-kisiwâsiwak, kîhtwâm ê-wâpamiskik. êkosi kapê wîcihik onatonâkîwak omisi isi……….. êkwa êkâ ta-kâsôstawacik | Mom and Dad will only be happy, not mad, to see you safe again. So always help searchers by………………. and not hiding from them. |
| Answers | ||
| 1 | wîhtamawik okîsohpikiwak itê kâ-wî-itohtêyan. | Tell an adult where you are going. |
| 2 | kîsôhisow êkaw êkâwiya sâpopê. | Keep warm and dry |
| 3 | naskwêwasihik têpwâtiskwâwi. | Answering their calls |
| 4 | âkwaskitin mistik êkwa kisâcî êkota. | Hug-A-Tree and stay put. |
The Plains Cree mosôm is represented by Carl Kennedy (from a script prepared by Solomon Ratt). A table for readalong appears below the video.
| SRO y-dialect | English | |
|---|---|---|
| âkwaskitin mistik êkwa pimâtisi | HUG A TREE AND SURVIVE | |
| “âkwaskitin mistik ikwa paspî” ôma natonâkêwin ikwa paspîhowin atoskêwin. ka-kiskinwahamâhcik ôki awâsisak nistam kâ-ayamihcikêcik isko niyânan kâ-ispihtisicik ta-kiskinwahamahcik: | “Hug-a-Tree and Survive” is a Search and Rescue program. It is aimed at children from kindergarten to grade 5 with the goal of teaching them: | |
| 1 | tânisi êkâ ta-wanisihkik sakâhk nôhcimihk | How not to become lost in the woods |
| 2 | kîkwây ta-itôtahkik kîspin ê-wanisihkik | What to do if they do become lost |
| 3 | tânisi êkâ ta-mâyinikêcik | How not to come to harm |
| 4 | tânisi ta-kî-isi-wîcihâcik onatonâkêwa ta-miskâkocik | How they can help searchers find them |
| ôma masinahikan tipêyihtamikow: | THIS BOOK BELONGS TO: | |
| Page 1 | John êkwa owâhkômâkana takopayiwak kâ-mâwaci-miywêyihtahkik kapêsiwinihk. | John and his family arrive at their favorite campsite in the woods. |
| Page 2 | John ôhtâwiya mânokêyiwa ikwa okâwiya ati-kwayâcihtâyiwa mîcisowinis. wîhtamawêwak Johna êkâ ta-kwâhtohtêyit. | John’s dad sets up the camper and his mom starts to fix lunch. They tell John not to go far. |
| Page 3 | John kiskêyihtam êkâ ta-kî-pêyako-kwâhtohtêt êkwa ta-kî-wîhtamawât awiya itê kâ-wî-itohtêt, mâka pîhtaw nânihkisiw ta-papâmi-nitawaskêt. | John knows he should not go off alone and should always tell someone where he is going, but he just can’t wait to start exploring. |
| Page 4 | John môyêyihtam ahpô îtikwê ê-wanisihk êkwa nama kîkway nisitawinam. mâci-tâh-têpwâtêw okâwiya êkwa ôhtâwiya. | Suddenly, John realizes that he is lost and nothing looks familiar. He begins to yell for mom and dad. |
| Page 5 | John sêkisiw mâka kiskisiw êkâ ta-osâmi-mâkwêyihtahk. ta-kî-âkwaskitinât mistikwa êkwa êkota ta-kisâcît. | John is afraid but remembers that he should not panic. He should “Hug-a-Tree” and stay put. |
| mistik ana kitôtêm. | A tree is your friend. | |
| Page 6 | John ati-kawaciw. postasâkêw êkwa kîsônisiw otayânisa ohci. | John becomes cold. He puts his jacket on and tucks in his clothes. |
| John wacistonihkêw nîpiya êkwa watihkwana ohci êkota ta-apit. kiskisiw otakwanahon êkwa wêwêkinisow êwako-ohci ta-kîsôsit êkâ ta-sâpopît. | John builds a nest of leaves and branches to sit on. He remembers his emergency shelter and wraps it around him to stay warm and dry. | |
| Page 7 | pisiskiwak kostâcihtâkosiwak kâ-tipiskâk mâka namôya kinôhtî-mâyi-tôtâkwak. | Animals make scary sounds at night but even big animals don’t want to hurt you. |
| John pôtâtam opôtâcikan êkwa têpwâtam anihi pêhtâkosiwina kâ-sêkihikot. | John blows his whistle and yells at the noises that scare him. | |
| Page 8 | John kiskêyihtam onîkihikwa poko isi ê-itôtamiyit ta-nitonâkot. | John knows his parents are doing everything they can to find him. |
| Page 9 | ta-wîcihât onatonâkêwa ta-miskâkot. John nâh-nâtwânam miscikos ta-oyastât ê-misâyik “X” ahpô asiniya ta-oyâhât ta-osîhtât ê-misâyik “SOS.” | To help the searchers find him, John could break branches off trees to make a big “X” or put rocks together to make a large “SOS”. |
| Page 10 | ta-kî-osîhtamâsow mîna atosa miscikosa ohci ta-itwahâyit mistikwa ita kâ-apit. êkwa mîna ta-kî-pimisin ta- misikitêhisot ispîhk pêhtâhki cowêhkanâpisîsi-pimihâkan. | He could also make an arrow pointing to his tree with a stick. He could lay down to make himself big when he hears the helicopter. |
| Page 11 | onatonâkêwak, cowêhkanâpisîsi-pimihâkana, omâtâhiwêwak, êkwa onatonâkê-atimwak nitonawêwak Johna. | Search and rescue responders, helicopters, trackers, and search dogs are looking for John. |
| Page 12 | John pêhtawîw onatonâkêwa êkwa wîhtamawêw ita kâ-ayât ê-pôtâtahk nistwâw opôtâcikan êkwa asici ê-wâstinamawât otakwanahon ohci. | John hears the searchers and lets them know where he is by blowing three times on his whistle and by waving his emergency shelter. |
| Page 13 | onatonâkêwak miskawêwak Johna êkwa nitawâpênikêwak kîspin ê-miywâyât êkwa itohtahêwak onîkihikomâwa. | The searchers find John and check to see if he is alright and bring him back to his parents. |
| Page 14 | John onîkihikwa cîhkêyihtamiyiwa ta-wâpamâcik. John paspîw ayisk ê-kî-kakêhtawâtisit. | John’s parents are very happy to see him. John is safe because he used his head. |
| Page 15 | nêwo wiyasiwêwina | 4 Rules |
| 1 | wîhtamawik okîsohpikiwak itê kâ-wî-itohtêyan. | Tell an adult where you are going. |
| 2 | âkwaskitin mistik êkwa kisâcî êkota. | Hug-A-Tree and stay put. |
| 3 | kîsôhisow êkaw êkâwiya sâpopê. | Keep warm and dry. |
| 4 | wîcihik onatonâkêwak ta-miskawiskik, naskwêwasihik têpwâtiskwâwi. | Help searchers by answering their calls. |
| Page 16 | wîcihik onatonâkêwak ta-miskawâcik Johna. | HELP THE SEARCHERS FIND JOHN |
| QUIZ | ||
| 1 | pâmwayês kâ-nitawi-môcikihtâyan nohcimihk, nîkân | Before starting your adventure in the woods, you should always |
| 2 | kîspin wanisiniyan êkâwiya osâmi-mâkwêyihta. kikiskêyihtên tânisi ta-itôtaman, têpiyâhk | If you should become lost, try not to panic. You know what to do, just |
| 3 | kâ-kîsôsinisiyan êkwa kâ-sakwâskwahaman kitayânisa êkwa kâ-wacistonihkêyan nîpiya êkwa miscikosa ohci kika-wîcihikon. | Tucking in and zipping up your clothes and building a nest with leaves and branches will help you |
| 4 | kikâwiy êkwa kôhtâwiy ta-miywêyihtamwak, namôya ta-kisiwâsiwak, kîhtwâm ê-wâpamiskik. êkosi kapê wîcihik onatonâkîwak omisi isi……….. êkwa êkâ ta-kâsôstawacik | Mom and Dad will only be happy, not mad, to see you safe again. So always help searchers by………………. and not hiding from them. |
| Answers | ||
| 1 | wîhtamawik okîsohpikiwak itê kâ-wî-itohtêyan. | Tell an adult where you are going. |
| 2 | kîsôhisow êkaw êkâwiya sâpopê. | Keep warm and dry |
| 3 | naskwêwasihik têpwâtiskwâwi. | Answering their calls |
| 4 | âkwaskitin mistik êkwa kisâcî êkota. | Hug-A-Tree and stay put. |
