The Cree School Board proudly hosted the iinuu metawewinh Games in Mistissini from March 25 to 27, uniting over 600 youth with teachers and Elders from across Eeyou Istchee in a celebration of Cree knowledge, skills and identity. Each school in the region sent a delegation to participate in traditional activities that reinforced important Cree values.
The competition provided an interactive and engaging way for participating youth to learn about their culture, which motivated learning opportunities at schools in the months leading up to the Games. While Ouje-Bougoumou Cree culture teacher Brian Longchap admitted the initial response was rather lacklustre, enthusiasm mounted as the Games approached.
“We had them do fire making, tea boiling, and got very well prepared,” Longchap told the Nation. “They really did well in the main events so we could tell they were into it. I was really proud. They had fun and want to do it again.”
Many events featured activities that were traditionally important for survival, such as bow and arrow shooting, yoke-and-pail hauling, slingshot, wood chopping and goose calling. The snowshoe and toboggan races delivered excitement while another contest had older girls prepare a goose to cook over a fire.
In one race, teams of five had to pack a sled with traditional items for a winter excursion. After creating a rabbit snare at the next station, the final task was chopping wood to build a fire and boil tea before taking off again with their snowshoes and toboggan towards the finish line.
At the final celebration dinner, Ouje-Bougoumou was awarded a plaque for winning the most medals, which Longchap has since displayed at their Cree culture building to commemorate the team’s achievement. The delegation included students from pre-kindegarten to Secondary 5.
“Seeing the faces of students cheering on their peers was something memorable,” recalled Longchap. “When they announced our community as final winners, everyone jumped like popcorn. They brought this experience back to their friends and I feel a difference when they come to my class.”
The idea of bringing all schools together to celebrate the culture’s living traditions was brought to the CSB’s council a year ago, which saw the initiative as a perfect counterpart to last year’s Eeyou Istchee Summer Games. Mistissini residents generously welcomed guests into their homes while the local youth council provided evening activities and general support.
“It was not just about competition but bringing everybody together to feel the happiness and healing from traditional activities,” explained local deputy youth chief and culture teacher Mario Neeposh. “Most youth are scared to approach Elders so it was like removing barriers to have that teaching directly.”
Elders were integral to the Games from the opening march through the community, which referenced the people’s roots as nomadic travellers. The walk culminated with Elders passing a symbolic snow shovel to a student from their delegation, representing the transmission of knowledge from generation to generation.
“The words from the Elders as those shovels were passed over were so full of wisdom, strength and empowerment,” CSB chairperson Sarah Pash shared. “It was such a powerful moment. It showed why it’s our responsibility collectively to make sure our children always have access to their heritage.”
The school board has been increasingly introducing ancestral knowledge into its curriculum and welcoming Elders into schools, honouring the traditional mentorship relationship. This learning method was demonstrated as each community constructed their own traditional dwelling.
“I liked seeing the Elders building these shelters then the younger ones imitating with smaller shelters,” said Angela Bearskin-Gates, director of iiyiyiuiyihtiwin research and development. “That’s how our people learned back then. In their shelters, they could cook, heat up tea or sit around talking before the next competition.”
Neeposh was surprised to see how different the dwellings were, reflecting each community’s unique traditions. Shelters ranged from regular teepees to two-door shaptuans to one resembling half of a log cabin. The open setting was an ideal occasion to roam around, asking Elders questions and meeting new friends.
“I enjoyed walking around from camp to camp like the old days when you walk into somebody’s camp without knocking and they’d offer you tea or a snack,” Bearskin-Gates said. “When you’re in the bush, you’re always working together, sharing everything. The Games had that feel – it was so heartwarming to see how everyone got along.”
Elder ladies cooking traditional food in the bigger shelter were joined by a steady stream of volunteers. A rare sighting of caribou in the area provided a memorable teaching experience as people from different communities shared their diverse expertise in butchering and cooking the harvest.
Whether participants were preparing a Waaspisuyaan moss bag for carrying infants or roasted meat on a string, coaches or Elders nearby would guide them through the process. Ongoing workshops throughout the Games demonstrated how to make tamaracks, paddles, fish nets, traditional medicines and more.
On the Cree Games webpage, Elders offer insights into chischaayihtimuwin passed down through generations. For example, Eddie Pashahumeskum said the bone game was played to improve concentration, precision and accuracy. Often made from a young moose’s hoof, points were made from how many times a string could be wrapped around it.
“We were honoured to have Philip Awashish and Robert Kanatewat at our event,” noted Pash. “It was wonderful for our students to experience these JBNQA signatories in the 50th anniversary of our agreement that guaranteed our right to carry on our culture and traditions. The event was a celebration of our ability to do all that.”
While the Games were too immense an undertaking to become an annual event, Pash said the CSB definitely wants to make it a regular occurrence. Cree Health Board director Virginia Wabano said the experience brought her back to the days when Crees would gather together before returning to hunting grounds with lifted spirits.
“I could see the joy on their faces, the big smiles when their teammates were running,” said Longchap. “At the beginning, many of my students had a hard time just putting on snowshoes. Now most of the school knows how to act in Native society – helping out like a family because that’s our tradition.”