October 10, 2024
It meant a lot to gather in a good way.
Members of the CPAWS team had the incredible opportunity to attend the public launch of the Kitaskeenan Kaweekanawaynichikatek Indigenous Protected Area project from September 2nd – 6th at the Fox Lake Cree Nation Culture Camp to show our support for the initiative.
The Kitaskeenan Kaweekanawaynichikatek project brings together five Cree (Nayhenaway lninewuk) Nations to discuss creating an Indigenous-led protected area on their shared ancestral lands in northeastern Manitoba and along the Hudson Bay coastline.
This project is led by York Factory First Nation, Fox Lake Cree Nation, Tataskweyak Cree Nation, War Lake First Nation, and Shamattawa First Nation. It aims to conserve, preserve and honour their shared ancestral homelands.
The five nations of the project are working to determine the boundaries of the Indigenous Protected Area within a study area in Manitoba’s Hudson Bay Lowlands region.
The 4-day gathering was coordinated by members from each of the five First Nations, and hosted by Fox Lake Cree Nation. Guests from across the province and beyond arrived at the gathering by train, plane and automobile to be part of this historic event. Allies and supporters from Ocean’s North, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Parks Canada, the National Audubon Society and Manitoba Hydro were also present to celebrate and support the project.
A Look into the Camp
Geese were flying high, and mornings were on the edge of frosty when we arrived. We camped in tents at the Fox Lake Culture Camp for the week, along with Councillor Sophie Lockhart, Mary Ouskun and other community members who would be our hosts during the gathering.
The first evening at camp was hot and humid—then wind, thunder, and lightning. Tents were tested, and fires were lit in the wood stoves.
Being on the land at camp together helped guests get acquainted with one another, and fostered a sense of shared excitement at the camp. The hospitality shown to all was second to none – a week chock-full of giveaways, workshops, music, bingo, time on the land and water, and more amazing food than we could eat.
Activities
Throughout the week, various workshops and activities took place.
Dylan Bignell from Tapwewin Health held a number of medicinal plant walks during the week and took great care to share his knowledge and the fruits of his labour with everyone. His vision for First Nations food sovereignty, combined with his breadth of experience working toward child and family wellness was inspiring – to the adults and the youth.
The caribou tufting workshop, led by Jessie McPherson (Fox Lake), was very popular! The tufting table was always full of folks designing anything they could dream of. Participants used traditional materials and techniques to create their own earrings, pouches or brooches. Working with sinew was new for some, as with the caribou fur. Short periods of silence were punctuated at regular intervals by questions, and bursts of laughter.
While the crafters crafted, and discussions were had in the main hall, trucks spent the day ferrying people back and forth for boat tours on the nearby reservoir. Robben Constant (YFFN) and Jared Wastesicoot (YFFN) also held sweat lodge ceremonies throughout the gathering.
It was truly a pleasure to gather in such a good way. Fireside conversations after the day wound down held some of the most memorable moments and biggest belly laughs.
Having youth from the nations at the gathering was particularly inspiring, seeing their eagerness to learn and participate in all of the week’s activities. Their laughter and eager questions reminded us that the best work is intergenerational and that they will be the ones to carry this work forward for future generations.
We are excited to see what learnings these future leaders will take with them from this gathering, and how they will build on the spirit of collaboration and mutual support their elders and community leaders have gifted them.
We would be amiss if we didn’t say a special thank you to Councillor Sophie Lockhart for her constant hospitality, wisdom and humour. Aside from the bear guards and fire keepers watching over the camp at night, Sophie was typically the first one up in the morning, and the last one to sleep at night. A warm host with a genuine love for people, Sophie was always making sure that everyone was comfortable, and at ease.
“That’s who Fox Lake is. We are really caring people. When people come to our community, we treat them right. There is always a lot of food.” -Councillor Sophie Lockhart, Fox Lake Cree Nation
The Vision
Much work has already been done by the five Nations to develop a shared vision for Kitaskeenan Kaweekanawaynichikatek. The past three years have led to the publication of a vision book for the project, available on the project website, which was developed and guided by traditional laws and the wisdom of their elders, youth, and knowledge keepers.
The logo developed for the project, and presented in stunning beadwork by Esther Laliberty of York Factory First Nation, highlights and embodies the shared values and vision of the project team and all five Nations involved.
- The five arrows represent the five Nations uniting together
- The woman represents the water and people caring for Askiy
- The child represents the future generations. The arrow held represents future Nations joining to protect the land and water.
- The land represents the ancestral homelands of the five Nations and all that Askiy holds.
- The coastline represents the history and identity of the Nayhenaway Ininewuk (the Cree people).
This vision was clearly and powerfully present in the voices of the Elders and leaders who spoke at the event. Though the main goal of the project is to protect Askiy – this land – and this goal will only be reached through intentional collaboration and the rekindling of kinship relations together.
“The five bands were supposed to walk together. But they started to divide and separate the bands. Today, I encourage you to walk together in unity. Walk together and never, ever stop fighting together, because you will make your Nations strong.” –Grand Chief Garrison Settee, Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak
“For me, this project represents our reconnection back to that land. Our reconnection back to each other. We were all separated, and are now finding our way back to each other.” –Robben Constant, York Factory First Nation
“It’s time, members, that we learn to walk together. Put aside our differences. And learn to live together, one more time.” – Eli Hill, Shamattawa First Nation
All five of these Nations were originally interconnected by kinship, language, culture and shared territory, until colonial policies segregated them into separate and distinct reserves. Given the large area stewarded and shared by these Nations since time immemorial, these kinship ties are both deep and broad, with stories shared of people rediscovering family connections as far away as James Bay, that they have been working to reconnect. It is powerful to witness an initiative that brings so many people together, in such a good way.
It was a gift and a privilege for CPAWS to support the launch of the Kitaskeenan Kaweekanawaynichikatek conservation project. We look forward to witnessing and supporting this collaboration and seeing the benefits for all generations to come.
A special thanks is due to HTFC Planning and Design staff, Elly Bonny and Shannon Bahuaud. They played the central role in helping the five Nations coordinate this event, and were invaluable organizers for the gathering. CPAWS was happy to assist them as needed.
For more information on the initiative, please visit the project website at https://www.kitaskeenan.ca/ to subscribe for project updates.
Sincerely,
Neil, Ron & the CPAWS team