Living Legends: Generational Teachings

In contemporary society there is still a lack of attention given to Indigenous voices. Most of the history and teachings on Indigenous nations and peoples, are told from a Western perspective that consciously and unconsciously minimizes the achievements of said groups and relegates them to a primitive status. Colonization needs justification for the actions taken against Indigenous people; therefore, it was required to misrepresent Indigenous people, shut Indigenous voices down, and erase Indigenous history. The history that is taught on Indigenous people is incomplete at best, and woefully wrong at worst. Consequently, Indigenous stories from Indigenous knowledge keepers needs to be collected and made available to Indigenous youth through accessible social media outlets including YouTube and podcasting platforms.

The project is needed because Indigenous youth face disassociation from their cultures and histories told from their own people’s perspectives. In fact, a 2021 report on demographic statistics on Canadian Indigenous youth found that, “most Indigenous youth reported making an effort to find out more about their history, traditions and culture; the figures were 71.4% for First Nations youth, 64.6% for Metis and 74.4% for Inuit” (Statistics Canada, 2021). Therefore, the project is ideal in fulfilling the need to connect with culture and traditions for Indigenous youth. Moreover, knowledge keepers are passing away while taking their valuable teachings with them. Those traditional teachings and knowledge are at great risk of being lost, and the registered status of Indigenous nations are at risk as well. The problem is exacerbated with the Covid-19 pandemic that has taken the lives of invaluable knowledge keepers who could not pass their teachings onto the next generation. A report by the UN found that Indigenous elders faced more devastating impacts from Covid-19 due to a variety of factors, and the cultural impacts were significant enough to warrant attention (United Nations, 2020) Therefore, the aim of the Living Legends project is to interview knowledge keepers in Maskwacis first, and then expand to other nations within Alberta, so that the valuable stories of the knowledge keepers can be stored safely and shared with the people.

Utilizing technology to professionally record knowledge keepers in Maskwacis first, then expand to other areas in Alberta and share the stories, histories, and cultural insights on accessible social media platforms. The Living Legends project will establish a database with multiple knowledge keepers that improves awareness on Indigenous issues, preserving the stories of knowledge keepers and their teachings. For me personally, learning with my Mosom (grandfather in Cree) changed my life for the better, as culture and ceremony helped me process the grief of losing my mom and aunty to senseless violence in 2017. I was only able to heal with the help of my Mosom, and regain my life back from alcoholism and grief due to my culture and strong community. Because ultimately, Indigenous ceremony and traditions promote balance and healing, as well as recovery from trauma and negative life choices. Therefore, it is imperative for Indigenous youth to be able access stories, histories, and traditional teachings from knowledge keepers for their own healing. A list of equipment to complete the project is below:

• Camera: A camera that is suitable for recording the interviews will be used.
• Audio equipment: The equipment will be used to preserve the interviews in the highest quality possible will ensure that access to the materials can be used in any setting, and that the interviews are preserved for future use.
• Technology: Media editing software will be employed along with online social media platforms to ensure the interviews are accessible to any demographic. Moreover, the project aims to reach Indigenous youth first and foremost.

The project will impact Indigenous communities who want to understand who they are, and where they came from. The history and teachings knowledge keepers have built up over their lifetimes is invaluable, and within Nehiyaw (Cree) culture, it was meant to be passed down from one generation to the next. The Living Legends project will document all these teachings so that they are not lost, and the wishes of the knowledge keepers is kept. It is up to the next generation to preserve our unique and beautiful cultures and traditions to be shared to the generation that comes after this one. The project is led by an Indigenous team who will follow and respect traditional protocols. Moreover, it will ensure that the hierarchy of credibility is challenged and that marginalized Indigenous voices are heard. The proposed solution will also have an affect on Indigenous youth, as VIDEA engages over 500 First Nations, Metis, Inuit, and global Indigenous youth across our programming. There is a hunger for learning directly from knowledge keepers as youth are stepping into leadership positions. Sharing these teachings supports young people who are reconnecting to culture and tradition, as well as strengthens the capacity of youth who find themselves navigating colonial systems. Lastly, this project is led by an Indigenous team that posses a unique understanding of the needs of Indigenous communities.

The project aims to start in Maskwacis first and will benefit the Nehiyaw (Cree) community. Then the project will expand to encompass a diverse perspective for all nations within Alberta. Nations such as Mni Thni (Morley), Wabasca, the siksikaitsitapi Blackfoot Confederacy, Tsuu T’ina Nation, Metis Nation of Alberta, and urban Indigenous youth. There are existing connections in place, connections that are still developing, and the communities listed can benefit from this cultural revitalization project. Interviews have already been conducted from respected Kiteyahk (Knowledge Keepers) in Maskwacis already, and the project has their blessing to continue this work. When the project expands, it will have a net positive on the wider Indigenous community and will shatter the myth that all Indigenous groups are similar and not distinct from one another. Furthermore, it will promote the voices from underrepresented Indigenous nations and give them a platform to state who they are from their own knowledge keepers.

The team lead Ferrada Lightning is a helper to his Mosom Rick Lightning in a traditional setting. He helps his grandfather in the things he can’t do, in return his Mosom teaches Ferrada what he knows about Nehiyaw (Cree) culture and ceremony. It is a traditional role of the Nehiyaw, whereby a young man assists his grandfather to be taught and to carry on the family culture and traditions. Furthermore, Ferrada has strong community connections that allow for Kiteyahk (knowledge keepers) to be reached, and the cultural insights that Ferrada has will ensure that the project will align with Nehiyaw (Cree) values. The project is Indigenous led and will promote Indigenous voices, as VIDEA’s network connects Indigenous leaders throughout Canada and possesses a storytelling platform to share these teachings easily.

The Living Legends project aligns with the core goals set out by Solve and is a unique and needed solution in Indigenous cultural revitalization and preservation. It seeks to establish partnerships that are mutually beneficial, incorporates and promotes innovation, and includes the use of technology. Moreover, the Living Legends solution is focused on solving a human-centered problem powered by optimism of a more connected future. There is not a single problem that cannot be solved.

The project promotes diversity, equality, and inclusion by encouraging Indigenous voices from the Indigenous communities themselves. The team is primarily Indigenous led with a strong understanding of culture and traditional teachings. Those same connections to Indigenous culture will lead this project to success and will respect the various diverse Indigenous communities. Anyone else will only have a surface understanding of Indigenous issues and will only capture the surface of the entire wealth of teachings from knowledge keepers. Cultural revitalization and preservation are a unique issue in contemporary society and the knowledge keepers will not be here forever, that is why it is important to gain the teachings from the traditional knowledge keepers.

Maskwacis, AB Canada. Ferrada is enrolled in Samson Cree Nation.

This project will also positively impact T’Sou-ke First Nation, Lil’wat First Nation, TLKemCHeen/Lytton First Nation, Wabasca, The Métis Nation of Alberta, and Urban Indigenous youth. 

The Living Legends project will collect invaluable teachings from knowledge keepers and ensures that they can be shared to the next generation indefinitely. Indigenous Youth yearn to understand who they are and who their people are. Therefore, the project focuses on a cultural dimension that will benefit youth. For example, Statistics Canada found that, “a majority of youth reported making an effort to find out more about their history, traditions and culture; the figures were 71.4% for First Nations youth, 64.6% for Metis and 74.4% for Inuit” (Statistics Canada, 2021). Clearly, there is a desire from Indigenous youth to find out about their culture and history. The positive outcomes will prepare Indigenous youth in navigating colonial systems and building their capacities for leadership roles. The project will strengthen community ties and preserve the unique cultures and teachings of the Indigenous nations participating in the project. It is innovative as it utilizes a platform that is accessible to Indigenous people in rural and urban settings, while providing material that is lacking. In fact, it is more important than ever to preserve the teachings from Indgenous knowledge keepers, as they are passing away.

The impact goal for the first year is to record multiple interview sessions with Cree knowledge keepers and share those teachings on accessible social media platforms. Moreover, the goal is to use VIDEA’s networks to share the teachings to reach a broad audience as possible. The long-term goal is to expand and collect teachings from other Indigenous nations knowledge keepers and share with their respective community members. Lastly, it is our goal to make the material suitable to educational formats to impact the general public’s perception of Indigenous people in a positive light.

Progress indicators:

• Conducted multiple interviews with knowledge keepers in Maskwacis.
• Spread interview videos and audio materials in an accessible format.
• Reached and impacted a wider audience with materials.
• Youth reported that materials have had a positive impact in their desire to learn their culture and history.
• Expand project to Indigenous communities outside of Maskwacis and gather interviews with other community knowledge keepers.
• Materials have been reported to have been used by schools and for other educational purposes.

In contemporary society Indigenous history, languages, and cultures have been the target of colonization to eradicate. However, despite centuries of colonization efforts to eradicate Indigenous people, we are still here. Our histories, our languages, our values, and beliefs live on in our knowledge keepers and peoples. We still practice our traditions and ceremonies just as our ancestors did. Yet, colonization still affects Indigenous people to this day in the form of teaching inadequate history that gives advantage and justification to settler people in their occupation of North America. My theory of change is to reverse the telling of a history that tried to erase the perspective from Indigenous nations and/or minimized their input. By being able to provide a platform for knowledge keepers to share teachings, stories, and histories to the younger generation, we empower Indigenous youth and build capacity to become leaders in their communities to help live in a diverse future that is mutually beneficial. We need to go beyond the hurt done by colonization and move forward with our teachings and values that our ancestors relied on to keep the people safe.

The Living Legends project will utilize existing social media technologies to share materials to a wide audience. We hope to use these technologies to promote underrepresented Indigenous voices and to remain accessible to rural communities and urban Indigenous populations. It is imperative for the materials to be accessed freely and easily. 

The team for the Living Legends project is a diverse group of Indigenous youth. At VIDEA, we commit to diversity, equality, and inclusion. Many of our members are involved with the LGBTQIA2S+ community. Moreover, our work involves promoting a safer and more inclusive society. We hope to promote underrepresented Indigenous voices and create materials that are feminist led. In fact, on our website we state that are vision is a just and equitable world in which everyone enjoys full knowledge of their human rights, and the education, skills and support necessary to claim and live them.

We hope to keep the produced materials accessible and free. 

VIDEA has been an active organization for 40 years, and we are continuing to expand to the other provinces. Specifically, we are planning to establish a hub in Alberta to provide more resources to communities outside of British Columbia. Our sources of revenue are through grants and government funding initiatives. Furthermore, we have many mutually beneficial partnerships with other organizations like Women for Change. The current plan is to apply for initiatives that support our goals, and apply for funding opportunities like Solve to produce valuable materials.

VIDEA has been an active organization for 40 years, and we are continuing to expand to the other provinces. Specifically, we are planning to establish a hub in Alberta to provide more resources to communities outside of British Columbia. Our sources of revenue are through grants and government funding initiatives. Furthermore, we have many mutually beneficial partnerships with other organizations like Women for Change. The current plan is to apply for initiatives that support our goals, and apply for funding opportunities like Solve to produce valuable materials.