The Cree Nation Youth Council (CNYC) sent a big thank you to the Ermineskin Cree Nation following their inspiring visit to Alberta at the end of May. Over thirty youth representing all ten communities of Eeyou Istchee spent five days experiencing life at the foot of the Rocky Mountains.
Cree Nation Youth Grand Chief Adrian Neeposh Gunner said the visit had its origins in a 2019 council resolution to build contacts with other First Nations youth. “Meeting other young leaders really helps to be united as Indigenous people in Canada,” he explained.
Made possible from additional funding provided by the Cree Nation Government in 2022 conditional to exchanges with other First Nations, the trip was intended to raise awareness about other Indigenous realities and the importance of representation. Working towards this initiative with their board of directors, CNYC projects coordinator Tania Richmond gave delegates guiding questions to encourage deeper reflection.
“The idea was to put thought into what they hoped to bring home, what makes you proud to be Eeyou/Eenou,” said Richmond. “This is hopefully just the first of many. We opened one door but we’re hoping to build a whole bridge.”
After the Covid pandemic, the CNYC started making connections with neighbouring northern communities and the First Nations Quebec Labrador Youth Network. The link with Ermineskin came from band councillor Jason Mackinaw, who collaborated with Drezus as a DJ when the hip-hop artist was invited to perform in Eeyou Istchee.
The cross-cultural exchange began in March, when three youth from Ermineskin joined the CNYC’s winter journey, trekking by snowshoe over 100 km in eight days from Waskaganish toward Eastmain. The group reconnected in Treaty 6 territory, laughing together like cousins.
After landing in Calgary May 26, the CNYC delegation toured the city’s downtown before visiting the Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump Interpretive Centre. The UNESCO-designated world heritage site preserves over 6,000 years of Plains Buffalo culture, where Blackfoot hunters harvested meat by driving the bison over cliffs.
Before arriving at Ermineskin on May 29, the group witnessed Banff’s breathtaking Lake Louise and went to the Indigenous music exhibit at the National Music Centre. Drezus shared stories from the 2017 MTV video music awards, when he won a “Moon Man” trophy for “Best Fight Against the System.”
“In Ermineskin, some of the youth joined us for a watch party for the Oilers’ [playoff] game,” said Mistissini Youth Chief Justice Debassige. “We learned about the history of Ermineskin, how they formed as a community. We could communicate in Cree despite the different dialects.”
Ermineskin knowledge keepers Jerry Roasting shared teachings about teepee raising, Carol Wildcat provided background about the community and Lorraine Cutarm gave a lesson about traditional hand games. Debassige spoke with Elders about the First Nation’s present struggles and realized they share many similarities.
“They wanted to develop their own youth advisory committee – we could help develop that with them,” said Debassige. “We need to form relationships to help each other. It was my first time in Alberta – I loved every minute of it.”
Ermineskin is one of the Four Nations of Maskwacis, Alberta’s largest Indigenous community, 95km south of Edmonton. Many delegates were impressed by their proximity to other First Nations, which frequently mingle together.
CNYC Deputy Grand Chief Jordan Masty told the group that one day they’ll need each other so they may as well be friends now. The bonding experience applied equally to the group itself. Lone Eastmain representative Nancy Mayappo overcame homesickness as the delegation became a “second family” during their adventure.
“When we got to Ermineskin, it was so welcoming it almost felt I was coming back home,” Mayappo said. “I was surprised at how alive their cultures were, how similar our culture and traditions are. It shows no matter where we are in the world, we’re all connected somehow.”
A highlight was Ermineskin’s annual powwow, which began May 30. The visiting delegation was given the honour of joining the grand entry, while Gunner and Masty delivered speeches. Gunner said it was the biggest powwow he’s ever witnessed.
“The sound of all the jingles was just amazing,” recalled Waswanipi delegate Jimianne Gunner. “They were setting up a teepee and I saw two ladies sitting in the shade. I stepped over a teepee pole and Joyce and Marlene, so sweet, said never step across a teepee pole because it takes away the men’s power.”
During the grand entry, Adrian Gunner recognized a familiar face among the dancers. He wasn’t sure it was his childhood friend Tyler Ottereyes-Eagle from Waswanipi until he read the syllabics on his regalia saying “eagle”. Having not seen each other in over 15 years, Gunner was happy to hear his friend was thriving in nearby Enoch Cree Nation, enjoying new experiences like hunting elk.
“I sing with a world-renowned drum group called Blackstone,” Ottereyes-Eagle told the Nation. “It’s like the Rolling Stones of powwow. There’s a lot of strength and pride in Native culture at powwows – the feathers and drums all contribute to our spirituality.”
While studies at the University of Alberta brought him to the province, Ottereyes-Eagle had dreamed of playing with Blackstone since listening to his late father’s cassette tapes as a child. When the group came to Waswanipi to work with the Waseskun drummers, they told him that if he ever moved to Alberta he could sing with them.
Bullied back home for his braids, Ottereyes-Eagle said everyone there has long hair, dances powwow and embraces traditional ceremonies. Elders tell him that all Crees originally came from James Bay and while “tansi” remains the common greeting, many are reclaiming “wachiya”.
“Wachi means a mountain or the top of something so wachiya is giving the highest welcome,” Ottereyes-Eagle explained. “I met a man about 80 who said when he was three years old, he was on a horse and wagon with his grandmother. The old lady passing by said wachiya – that was the last time he had heard that word.”