Cree Elders and youth gathered in Waskaganish September 1-4 for the 13th annual Cultural Gathering, an event dedicated to sharing knowledge, skills and cultural pride in Eeyou Istchee. According to organizers, the gatherings began after Elders warned of disappearing traditions. Through hands-on workshops, the gathering sought to restore balance and pride while ensuring Cree traditions remain strong in the communities. Elders spoke about difficult but essential truths, addressing injustice and the pain experienced by Cree people, while also sharing the history of Eeyou Istchee and their ongoing journey of healing. The event offered workshops and activities that combined cultural teachings with mindfulness practices, creating space for participants to learn, reflect and reconnect with both tradition and well-being. Pearl Weistche, Coordinator of Iiyiyiu Chiskutimaaschaawin, presented the Grade 1 Cree immersion project to Elders, noting many hadn’t realized that the Cree Language of Instruction Program, once central to teaching Cree in early grades, had been removed. When asked for details, she highlighted the community’s focus on education in Cree. “I just told them where we are now – in the process of reclaiming our language through the Grade 1 immersion program, and Grade 2 is coming too,” Weistche said. “I like the mission behind it – to pass on the knowledge. I especially like the storytelling, where they pass on the language. It helps me in my work, reclaiming and revitalizing Cree.” This year’s turnout was among the largest yet, she said. “There were about 200,” Weistche said. “It’s good to hear all the dialects, and the differences, that’s what we need.” Weistche’s parents showed how snowshoes are made. “My mom was weaving the snowshoe, and my dad was shaping the frame,” she said proudly. “I was happy when the teachers took the time to bring their students. Some sat and listened to the Elders, others preferred to walk around and join the hands-on activities.” Students tried their hands at carving, making tamarack decoys, and creating both modern and traditional artwork. “They really enjoyed the workshops,” Weistche said. “Some of them sat with us and wanted to know how the beaded moccasin tops were done.” In her opinion, the gathering serves a practical purpose, which is building the foundation for the future of Cree education. Her father Sanders Weistche, who participated on the second and third day of the event, shared a snowshoe-making craft that has carried generations across the land. “I was also dared to tell an old story about transportation, mainly canoeing, and the hard work our grandfathers did while being out on the land,” Sanders explained in Cree. For him, these demonstrations went beyond learning skills; they were about identity, resilience and continuity. Sanders noted the youth were attentive and asked questions about the process. “But mostly, they were observing,” Sanders said. “Because that’s how our educational framework is. First, you watch, then you follow the process, and then you ask questions – that’s how it is when an Elder is doing something.” For Sanders, this event is the opportunity to remind young people that traditional knowledge is more than cultural memory, it’s a foundation for healing. “The most important part of this assembly is for the youth to learn our traditional ways and to integrate them into their healing,” he said. “To learn the values and use them every day, so they can have a good life in the future, so they can walk the path of our Elders and know their identity.” Sanders believes the connection between culture and wellness is clear. “The traditional arts are very good for mental health,” he said. “That’s the most important part, to help our youth know themselves, to give them strength, and to carry on the ways of our people.”
Identity and resilience Cultural gathering passes on skills and essential truths
