Cree Nations plans to run and gather for cultural unity

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Excitement filled the air as this year's organizers gathered to plan the Cree Nation Confederacy's fourth annual Cree Nation Gathering. The meeting, held at the Canadian Native Friendship Centre on June 9, was attended by a group of elders, organizers and guests of the confederacy.

The gathering is scheduled for July 26 to 29 and will take place at the Muskwachees Cultural and Powwow Grounds at the Erminskin reserve in Hobbema.

The Cree Nation Confederacy is an organization that is committed to the support of the people of the Cree Nation who want to preserve and promote the Crees' distinct identity. The Crees are one of the largest tribes in Canada. The tribe extends from Hudson Bay in eastern Canada to the base of the Rocky Mountains. The Cree people are divided into four basic groups: the Plains Cree, the Woodland Cree, the Swampy Cree, and the Moose Cree.

The Plains Cree live mostly in central Alberta, while the Woodland Cree live in northern Alberta. The Swampy Cree are from northern Manitoba and the Moose Cree are found in the Hudson Bay area.

The confederacy wants to focus on preserving the culture, the language, traditions, customs and traditional lands. The gathering is organized with the intent to preserve the Cree customs for the benefit of future generations.

"As Cree people, we've lost a lot over the years. We basically want to bring back what we lost," said Alex Ahenakew, chairman of the Cree Nation Confederacy.

"Some of the issues we want to look at is how to get along and get know your extended family. In the past everyone knew who they were related to. Somehow we've lost that connection. The other one is how to be kind to everyone and how to get along with each other. And finally child rearing, how to raise the children. Basically we want to bring these back. The loss of these values is probably what is affecting our youth," said Ahenakew.

The event's organizers invite everyone to take part in the gathering, to share ideas and to strengthen the Cree culture. The four-day event will include traditional activities such as sweatlodge ceremonies, feasts, a round dance, hand games, addiction workshops, plus Cree language presentations, and activities for the youth.

"We do not want the youth left out, so we are going to bring in high profile, positive, inspirational spokespeople to set up workshops that will encourage and bring positive ideas to the youth," said Rhonda Lapatac, public relations coordinator of the Cree gathering.

Last year's gathering was held in Saddle Lake.

"To determine what reserve will host the next gathering, each year the Elders go through a meeting process," said Lapatac.

"The Elder's knowledge in customs and traditions will lead the discussions during the gathering," she said.

For the last two years the gathering has included a run. This year, Run for Unity '99, will begin in Grand Rapids, Manitoba and go on to Saddle Lake, Alberta. The run will then finish at the Ermineskin Cree Nation in Hobbema.

The run will be a distance of more than 1,000 km. During the run a traditional sweatlodge ceremony will be held in each province.

"I find this run is an opportunity for the youth to go out and meet other youth and to give them a sense of belonging to their culture," said Winston Lapatak, one of the co-ordinators for the run.

"So far we have about 75 youth running," he said.

"All First Nations people are invited to join in the celebration and run," said Lapatak. "Fundraising for the gathering and the run is still ongoing," he said.