Earth Day 2015 - 25th Anniversary of the Odeyak

Yesterday was an inspiring day to honour an inspiring and heroic voyage. Earth Day, April 22, marked the 25^th anniversary of the journey of the Odeyak from Whapmagoostui to New York City. Youth delegates Elders along with past and present Cree leaders from all corners of Eeyou Istchee gathered together at Aanischaaukamikw Cree Cultural Institute (ACCI) to commemorate and celebrate the remarkable effort of the Inuit and Cree peoples to stop the damming of the Great Whale River.  

Daniel Bosum Sr.

The day was launched with a warm welcome from Joshua Iserhoff, Youth Grand Chief of the Cree Nation Youth Council, ACCI’s president Abel Bosum & Willie Iserhoff, Director of Culture for the Cree Nation Government. A beautiful blessing from elder Daniel Bosum Sr. and opening hand drum song from Redfern Mianscum set the tone for the day.

Original paddles from the Odeyak voyage were reunited with the watercraft. One paddle coming from Vermont, donated by Dr. Hans Carlson, and the others coming from Eastmain, donated by CBC’s own Christopher Herodier. We thank them for their generous donation; the paddles will become part of the permanent collection at ACCI.

Odeyak Paddlers & Nishiyuu Walkers

The day was not only a day of commemoration, youth empowerment and environmental stewardship, but also day of celebration! CBC North’s Christopher Herodier broadcast live from Aanischaaukamikw during the lunch hubbub for his radio show Eyou Dipajimoon, when delegates and participants had a chance to mingle, chat with old friends and meet new ones. After lunch Powwow dancer Darren Saganash danced as the Waseshkun Drummers from Waswanipi filled the Billy Diamond Hall with the heartbeat of the drum. Lloyd Cheechoo, Richard Bosum, & Diane Bosum sang beautiful songs for us. Christopher Herodier made an impromptu performance with some great tunes. The day ended fittingly with a stunning vocal performance from rising star Miriame Hasni. 

The Cree Nation Youth Council and ACCI could not have realized this important regional event without the generous support from the Cree Nation Government’s Department of Culture, the Ministry of Culture of Quebec, Air Creebec, Cree Outfitters and Tourism Association, Cree Native Arts and Crafts Association, and Ouje-Bougoumou Cree First Nation. 

Feast

Aanischaaukamikw welcomes Abel Bosum as President

Aanischaaukamikw Cree Cultural Institute is proud to welcome Abel Bosum as President of our organization. Mr. Bosum was elected by our Board of Directors at their meeting on April 2, 2015, succeeding Dianne Ottereyes Reid. 

We look forward to benefiting from Mr. Bosum’s knowledge and experience during his term and foresee continuing advances for ACCI under his leadership. Mr. Bosum will have the complete support of, and enthusiastic collaboration from, the entire Aanischaaukamikw team as he works to further our mandate at the regional, provincial and national levels.

Commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Odeyak

Some news coverage from our Odeyak Event!

CBC News

As It Happens

Award of Outstanding Achievement in Education

ACCI receives prestigious national award for excellence from the Canadian Museums Association for theatrical production of Mind’s Eye!

 

To learn more about the tour check out this story from CBC and our blog post from 2014.

For more information about the award, please see the press release in English and French.

Knowledge & Self Representation - American Indian Workshop 2015

The 36^th American Indian Workshop took place March 24-27, 2015 at the Goethe University Frankfurt am Main in Germany.  This year’s topic was Knowledge & Self Representation, and featured presenters and keynote speakers from across Europe, North American, and Asia.

ACCI archivist Raegan Swanson and former museum and archival technician (summer 2014) Jordan Graham presented their paper Aanischaaukamikw: Cree Self-Representation in Eeyou Istchee on the Thursday afternoon in a session entitled Collection/Museum/Repatriation.  The paper focused on the establishment of the museum and the focus of the collections throughout the museum, library and archives.  It also discussed the collaboration that takes place between elders, youth, community members from the Cree communities and museum, library and archive professionals.

Opening & Keynote speaches - AIW @ Goethe University Frankfurt am Main

This session included presentations from Atsunori Ito (The Japan National Museum of Ethnology), Marie-Claude Strigler (University Paris III) and Robert Keith Collins (San Francisco State University).  The session ended with a lively discussion with all the presenters and audience.

Thanks to the Goethe University and the AIW for a great conference.  

AIW Conference dinner - Apfelwein Wagner