John and Friends, recently launched by the James Bay Cree Communications Society, teaches Cree language, culture and traditions through songs, stories and laughter. The children’s program is an entertaining and educational puppet show starring an elderly couple and their animal friends in Mistissini.
Since debuting April 11, the half-hour pilot episode has amassed over 30,000 views on the JBCCS Facebook page. Founded in 1981 and broadcasting Cree news since 1986, the non-profit regional radio network is increasingly publishing video content to reach wider audiences.
“We’re losing our language and trying to compete with iPhones and iPads,” said show creator Patrick Forward. “What better way than create our own Cree Sesame Street with a little English, a little Cree and a whole lot of fun and learning for the kids?”
With the support of JBCCS executive director Scott Forward, the team worked with US-based Axtell Expressions to adapt puppets to Cree culture. A reindeer was converted to a moose, a white goose transformed into a Canada goose and the facial features and skin-tone of the old man and woman resemble Cree people.
Patrick Forward worked primarily with Jason Swallow and Noah William Jolly behind the scenes to bring the idea to life. The show revolves around Cree Elder John and his wife Mary Anne at their bush camp. They are joined by Morley the Moose, Ghaline the Goose, and the mischievous crow twins, Ka and Kachoo. As in Sesame Street, the puppet characters interact with real people.
The first episode features a discussion with former Grand Chief Mandy Gull-Masty about what she eats for breakfast and how her friends help her in her role. Gull-Masty also reads from the children’s book she wrote about her dogs, called Minnie and Monica Make New Friends. Besides playing Ghaline, Kitty Mary Neeposh hosts a segment making bead earrings while Phoebe Blacksmith leads an exercise routine.
Production was a learning process, particularly in using green screens that enable visually complex digital backgrounds without the need for costly sets. Currently working on episodes two and three, JBCCS is aiming to release six more this year. Thy plan another 12 for the second season next year.
“We were thinking if we should get an actual set, houses, locations,” said Swallow, the show’s co-director and co-writer. “The easiest way was using green screen. The first episode was learning how we can produce in a certain timeline. Wapikoni has been teaching me camera work.”
Samuel Macleod drew inspiration from the classic animated squirrel and moose duo Rocky and Bullwinkle for his voicing of Morley the Moose. With a longstanding interest in the iconic Muppet creations of Jim Henson, he’s been excited to learn puppeteering alongside his Morley stand-in, Justin Ryan Swallow.
“We’ve both been into that since we were children,” Macleod shared. “It’s cool learning how to give puppets life. My son didn’t realize I was voicing the moose but told me it was his favourite character. I told him it was me and his mind was blown.”
In the second episode, Morley the Moose will be teaching kids the colours in Cree and Macleod hopes to eventually pass on skills like making fishnets, which he has fond memories of doing with his grandfather. Future segments focus on people and places in the community, cooking and singing.
“We eventually want to put together an interactive website so kids can pick a puppet to learn to count to 20, colours, weather, trees,” Forward explained. “The younger ones absorb it like sponges. Making the Cree language fun means they’re going to learn and want to continue to do it.”
Forward remembers when his mother Georgina, a teacher for 40 years, used puppets during English lessons as “the best times ever.” Now she’s a major part of John and Friends, teaching the Cree language in the role of Mary Anne.
Georgina Forward asserted that learning begins with a strong foundation in hearing and speaking Cree. John and Friends helps accomplish this goal, as the characters alternate between English and Cree (with English subtitles).
“We make mistakes and don’t know certain words, but we help one another,” she said. “We have lots of laughs. Children will see it’s okay to make a mistake and laugh about it because someone will help you.”
Working alongside Clarence Snowboy (who plays John), Georgina Forward noted the many opportunities to learn, from the puppeteering adventures to expanding their Cree vocabularies. She was challenged to recall ingredients in Cree during a non-puppet segment demonstrating how to make bread.
“One person told me you encouraged me to make bread for Easter,” she said. “You’ll see me making cookies and probably see me sing. I would love to get a group of kindergarten children who can sit with the puppets and sing with us – that would be a hit.”
Swallow said they’re trying to get singers involved as John and Friends becomes a bigger focus at JBCCS. The organization’s team and programming continue to grow, from the Speak Cree to Me series to an upcoming project investigating local paranormal stories.
There are already discussions with the Cree Health Board and Cree School Board about developing special programming that can be screened in classrooms, such as a bus safety campaign.
“We have lots of people interested in contributing,” said Patrick Forward. “As they start to teach Cree in Grade 1, we could maybe help with curriculum. Same thing with daycares. We can help them have materials to teach our kids Cree and make our language good and strong again.”