STORIES FROM THE KOHKOMS II

We use the word "Indigenous" when the kohkoms or grandmothers we are refering to come from different nations. We prefer saying “Nehiyaw,” “Niitsitapi or Siksikaitsitapi,” “Anishinaabe,” etc. when we can, and believe that recognizing nationhood is a part of decolonization; all of these nations are Indigenous to Turtle Island, but simply referring to them as Indigenous erases their nationhood and unique histories, cultures, connections to the land, languages, and laws. When we do use the word "Indigenous," it is inclusive of Métis, Inuit, and First Nations who are all first peoples of Turtle Island.

When we interview an Elder and they use Cree words to describe a teaching, we want to preserve the language they use to describe it in the most authentic way possible. This means we need the Cree or Indigenous language spoken to describe a teaching from that culture; English does not always interpret these concepts well, and it is important to speak, preserve, and teach Indigenous languages and not anglicize the teachings by taking out Cree words if they are used.

A timeline is an educational tool that organizes key events in the past visually, so that we can see how we got to where we are today. It is also a way to honour and memorialize prominent figures in our communities and remember and celebrate their legacies. It is more accessible, and easier to read than a book, but can provide just as much of an overview.

Our goal was to create a timeline that focuses on events that have impacted Indigenous women’s rights, and Indigenous women’s achievements across Turtle Island. We realized in doing this research that there aren’t many if any timelines like this out there.

No! We are respectful of the unique conditions for copyright in situations where we are publishing traditional knowledge, that cannot be owned by anyone other than the knowledge keepers and communities the knowledge comes from. The copyright goes to those who share their knowledge with us, and we have a write up in the calendar about respecting traditional knowledge, knowledge holders, and communities.

When we began the kohkom project, we primarily interviewed members of the Kohkom Kisewatisiwin Society. Through word of mouth and kinship networks we were connected with other knowledge holders living in or from communities within Treaty 6 who had teachings they were eager to share for the coming generations. We did not turn anyone away who had something to share, and we followed traditional protocol as a part of our methodology.

These teachings have been gathered from and approved by Indigenous women, grandmothers, knowledge holders and traditional Elders in Treaty 6. They are from the ancestors, teachers, and life experiences of the kohkoms themselves, and therefore they are authentic.

Yes, our main interviewer is a Cree woman from Saddle Lake, who is related to many of the people we interviewed. We are also creating an educator’s manual for the kohkom calendar, and the woman writing it is a traditionally raised Indigenous school teacher.

Strengthening relationship and encouraging community building, as well as supporting Indigenous women, are mandates of Circle Teachings, so this is a priority to us.

Yes, it will be. We are currently developing a curriculum / educator’s guide to go with the kohkom calendar.

Yes. As stated above, all stories were reviewed by Indigenous grandmothers, knowledge holders, community leaders, and other people from communities in Treaty 6.

The Kohkom Kisewatisiwin Society is a group of Indigenous grandmothers who gather in Edmonton to learn, and share teachings for the benefit of their communities. They wanted to create a calendar that helps support their mission, and that provides accessible grandmother knowledge to the public.

Some of the calendar revenue will go directly to covering production and printing costs, subsidized and funded originally by Circle Teachings, with help from the Kohkom Kisewatisiwin Society, and Servus Credit Union. Revenue after that will be shared with the Kohkoms. The calendar is also a fundraising tool for the Kohkoms and other Indigenous organizations, and special rates are offered for groups that want to use it this way.

The calendar is Cree-leaning because a lot of the women we have interviewed are Métis or Cree. Some say that we live in “Cree country,” and though this is true in terms of what language is most predominantly spoken here (In Edmonton it’s Plains Cree mostly) there is a huge diversity of Indigenous nations with communities in Treaty 6, and lives and families in this territory as well. Edmonton alone is home to a large diversity of Indigenous folks who speak different dialects, who have their own teachings and laws. We look forward to including as many nations as we can in the future, as more kohkoms from different backgrounds come to us to share their knowledge.