Miscigwâcagâsihk Education Authority: Cree Declaration

Cree translation coming soon.

nêhinaw mâmitohnênîcikan is the foundation of education for Cumberland House Cree Nation people. nêhinaw mâmitohnênîcikan is an all-encompassing way of seeing and understanding the Cree worldview. Our language, traditions, values and understanding of good relationships all contribute to nêhinaw mâmitohnênîcikan. We foster an education system that allows us to pursue self-determination as Cree people in order to ensure the success, health and happiness of our community members. Cree ways of thought are revitalized through the formal education system. We recognize, affirm, declare and practice our inherent rights to develop our own education system that is consistent with nêhinaw mâmitohnenicikan.

mâmawih-atoskêwin will guide our actions in following cultural and traditional teachings. wahkohtowin is the belief that all things are related and connected, and we all have a responsibility to live in a good way. We recognize that respect for kitaskînaw, kêtêyak, oskâtisak, and the Treaties are paramount to planning ahead and making decisions for future generations.

We have a responsibility to honour and protect Treaty rights, including enshrining kitaskînaw. The signing of Treaty Five signifies the sacred and historical relationship with the Crown and nêhniwak. Treaty Five imparted a fiduciary responsibility onto the Government of Canada to provide funding for schools that will allow us to succeed in our communities and society while preserving our language and culture.

We acknowledge it is important to revitalize a treaty relationship with the Governments of Canada. The other partners in Treaty have not always respected the treaty relationship with us. The historical and ongoing colonization have damaged the relations and communities. Relations can be repaired by properly funding education systems that are under Cumberland House Cree Nation control and design. The Crown has a fiduciary duty, obligation and responsibility to provide unencumbered funding that will allow Miscigwâcagâsihk Education Authority to provide the best education possible for our nêhinaw people.

We have the inherent right to operate our own schools, decide our own curriculum, determine our own outcomes and set our own priorities. We are néhinaw ininiwak, therefore our curriculum will focus on our history, culture/traditions, language and land. Néhinaw teaching methods and perspectives relevant to Cumberland House Cree Nation will be included in all aspects of the education system. The Cumberland House Cree Nation will not privilege Western Education over néhinaw Education.

All children in Cumberland House Cree Nation are important, are valued and will be at the centre of decision making in our educational pursuits. Our schools embrace and accommodate the needs and aspirations of all students. Our schools will be a safe environment for students and staff, as we embrace and provide an optimal learning environment.

A néhinaw language curriculum will be intentionally at the core of daily life and activities of our schools. We will ensure land-based forms of education are core aspects to the learning process.

We believe that motivation, self-esteem and personal wellness are central to a balanced education system. We recognize that inclusive education requires teachers to be innovators and to make the best use of current and relevant technology. Our goal is to prepare our children to be independent and successful.

We honour parents as partners in all aspects of learning. Kêtêyak will be involved in lives of students through the sharing of our oral history, traditions, and acimowina. We affirm that it takes strong parental, kêtêyak, and community participation to ensure the success of our children.

We affirm the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Truth and Reconciliation "Calls to Action" and Miscigwâcagâsihk Education affirms that Nehinawewin is an integral part of the school system.

We strive to ensure that our students will be equipped to support themselves as they participate in their homes, communities and the world. Atoske is the final goal for our students.

nêhinaw mâmitohnênîcikan - Cree worldview and way of thinking
mâmawih-atoskêwin - working together
wahkohtowin - all things are related and connected
kitaskînaw - our land
kêtêyak - Elders
oskâtisak - youth
nêhniwak - Cree people
acimowina - stories
Atoske - to work