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YXE Cree Speakers Society
Revitalizing and strengthening culture through the Indigenous language of the region.
2025 Keep Our Language Alive Conference
Details Coming Soon!
“Let’s Spread the Words” by Jerry Whitehead
was commissioned for the 2024 Keep the
Language Alive Conference.
About the Artist
Jerry Whitehead is a nationally renowned artist from Peter Chapman First Nation.
Though he has practiced many different styles throughout his career, he is known for his vibrant depictions of powwows and powwow dancers. Whitehead credits his interest in art to his family, having grown up around creative relatives who worked with hides and did beadwork.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Indian Art from the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College and a Bachelor
of Fine Arts from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design in Halifax.
Today, Whitehead lives and works in British Columbia, but his signature style is undoubtedly inspired by his family, culture, and Treaty Six Territory. Whitehead’s work has been shown across Canada and is held in numerous
collections, including Remai Modern.
The YXE Cree Speakers Society Project
Our Purpose
Research to Date
Our Purpose
- To identify the programs, research, reports and other supports that have successfully impacted Plains Cree language development to date.
- To identify lessons learned from past language development strategies.
- To create an inventory of existing strategies for the purpose of introducing innovative products to support the Plains Cree (Y
- To identify the programs, research, reports and other supports that have successfully impacted Plains Cree language development to date.
- To identify lessons learned from past language development strategies.
- To create an inventory of existing strategies for the purpose of introducing innovative products to support the Plains Cree (Y dialect) language development and retention.
- The Plains Cree (Y) dialect was chosen as it was noted that most organizations attempting to further Indigenous language development have limited funding with their broad mandates of including all Indigenous languages.
Funding
Research to Date
Our Purpose
In 2021-22 the YXE Cree Speakers’ Society was awarded funding from the Department of Canadian Heritage to be used over a two-year period to:
· Engage with grassroots fluent Plains Cree Language speakers through Roundtable discussions to share successes in Cree language development and to identify areas that require additional supports or
In 2021-22 the YXE Cree Speakers’ Society was awarded funding from the Department of Canadian Heritage to be used over a two-year period to:
· Engage with grassroots fluent Plains Cree Language speakers through Roundtable discussions to share successes in Cree language development and to identify areas that require additional supports or changes.
· Conduct a survey with Indigenous peoples aged 18-30 who are interested in learning the Plains Cree Language and/or have taken Cree classes in the past and ask for their feedback on what they require to help them continue to develop their own Cree Language practice.
· Create an inventory of research, projects, reports, conferences, and programs that support the teaching of the Cree Language.
· Gather together with those interested in developing and retaining the Plains Cree Language to collectively identify innovative strategies for moving forward.
Research to Date
Research to Date
Research to Date
Roundtables with Fluent Plains Cree Language Speakers (January to March 2022)
Discussions held at River Cree Resort & Casina (Enoch Cree Nation) and Dakota Dunes Resort (Whitecap Dakota First Nation).
identified lessons learned from past language development strategies and the need to introduce more innovative products to support the Plain
Roundtables with Fluent Plains Cree Language Speakers (January to March 2022)
Discussions held at River Cree Resort & Casina (Enoch Cree Nation) and Dakota Dunes Resort (Whitecap Dakota First Nation).
identified lessons learned from past language development strategies and the need to introduce more innovative products to support the Plains Cree (Y dialect) language development and retention.
Aspiring Plains Cree Speakers Survey (March to April 2022)
Conducted with 18-30 year-olds who have participated in formal or community-based Cree language programming in the past 25 years, the survey found a desire for learning programs that connect with culture, use storytelling and are project-based. Technology would also help with pronunciation, as well as affordable and accessible Language classes in all levels of schooling.