Michele Schwab

Grade 11 and 12 teacher Michele Schwab wanted to create an opportunity for her students to make connections with local kêhtê-ayak (Cree for old ones) and knowledge carriers from Starblanket Cree Nation, Little Black Bear First Nation, Okanese First Nation, and Peepeekisis First Nation. Students brainstormed ideas of topics they wanted to learn about and then sought guidance from Kêhtê-aya Alma Poitras on how to interview other kêhtê-ayak in a culturally appropriate way. Once their interviews were complete, the students worked as a team to create editorials, art pieces, and poems to reflect the stories that were shared with them. They compiled their work into a magazine entitled Ôtāhcimōwiniwāwa Kākistāwētinīki Ōtēsi Nīkan (Their Stories That Echo Into The Future). The students hosted a magazine launch at which they shared food and stories with community members and knowledge carriers. The project continued to grow, as students made podcasts and art pieces to share the stories with younger audiences.

This initiative strengthened intergenerational bonds and reflected the unique and diverse strengths and backgrounds of the students involved. Students emerged as empowered storytellers and advocates, gaining a deeper understanding of their cultural heritage and their role in preserving it for future generations.