Hearing the Language—For Cree Speakers: A conversation with Mike Beaver

 

Mike Beaver joined Jim Cardinal and Dustin McGladrey in the CFWE-FM studio for the Conversational Cree show.

Mike is from Bigstone Cree Nation in Wabasca, and he works out of the health and wellness office as an Elder. He was in studio to talk primarily about the Treaty 8 Climate Change Symposium, scheduled for Nov. 16 at the River Cree Resort and Casino.

“We’ve had talks about the climate change, including conversations with the Elders….This meeting, we’re going to be talking about climate change and what we can do to accommodate or transition from this to whatever is coming,” Beaver said.

Some of the workshops at the symposium will include “Climate Change and the Role of Women”, “Renewable Energy”, “Food Sovereignty”, and “Land-based learning”.

But first, some discussion in the Cree language, and the work of trapping. Beaver says he has some experience with trapping. He said he is a land user and tries to learn from the land. He said, that’s where the teachings come from, the trapline.

Listen in on a Cree conversation among friends.

(Editor’s note: This is not translated, so this segment is for fluent speakers and those who can listen with a fluent speaker.)