Revisiting & Reconnecting: Indigenous language & culture
Revisiting & Reconnecting: Indigenous language & culture
Simon Bird and Charlotte Ross
May 25th 1:00 - 2:30 MT
Welcome to the inaugural session of the J-series! Through personal storytelling and fact sharing, Simon Bird (Rock Cree) and Charlotte Ross (Woodland Cree) welcome you to the world of the Cree - a history filled with strength, adversity, and innovation. Each presenter will share their unique insights and journeys into Indigenous Language Revitalization that have profoundly impacted their understanding of the importance of protecting and sharing our language.
Both presenters grew up in northern Saskatchewan in different communities, were raised in the Cree language, on the land, and learned values from their family members to sustain them throughout the many challenges they would face. They are lifelong learners and pursued undergraduate and graduate degrees through the University of Saskatchewan in the areas of Education, Indigenous Studies, Adult/Continuing Education, and Northern Governance.
Join us for a lively introduction and discussion on how Indigenous worldviews alter how we see our place and contributions to the world at large through respect, reciprocity, and responsibility for our actions. To truly have reconciliation, one must be willing to undergo self-reflection to have a better understanding of our own lived experience within the context of a greater society. Synergy is the key to working together to create a brighter and better future for the next seven generations.
Simon Bird is a father of two and husband of 22 years to Naomi Bird of the Thunderchild First Nation. Simon is Woodland Cree member of the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation or as the local community sometimes call themselves, Rock Cree. Simon a language advocate and a fluent speaker of the y, th and n dialects of Cree. He is also a learner of anishinabemowin, commonly known as the Ojibway language. He is a life long learner with an extensive background in education including teacher, principal and Education Director. Currently Simon is the Director of Governance at the Assembly of First Nations while pursuing his PHD in Indigenous Language Revitalization at the University of Victoria. He currently calls Ottawa home as he continues to network in various capacities in First Nations and the Federal Government. Check out #CreeSimonSays on Facebook groups or on YouTube.
Charlotte Ross is a registered band member of the Montreal Lake Cree Nation located in northern Saskatchewan, one of three Woodland Cree First Nations that signed an adhesion to Treaty 6 in 1889. She is a mother of three sons and has made Rosetown, SK her home along with her partner, Paul. She is a first language speaker of Woodland Cree TH-dialect and has also taught in the Plains Cree Y-dialect and can understand the Swampy Cree N-dialect. Charlotte has been engaged in higher education for over two decades working to create change within institutions of higher learning. For the past decade, she has re-focused her energies to building capacity within the First Nation communities and is enjoying the educational journey of being a PhD candidate in Indigenous Language Revitalization at the University of Victoria. She is co-host of a Cree language podcast created by First Nations University https://www.pikiskwewin.ca/ and loves co-teaching a weekly online adult Cree language group called Cree & Coffee.
