Grant: Travel Awards - Institute Community Support

The relationship between land and Indigenous ways of knowing are intertwined and cannot be separated as Philip Whiteman Jr. states, "The languages of the land are born on the land, when we lose the languages the lands will go with them." Land is more than a physical location for an Indigenous person, it must be understood as part of a sacred relationship in our everyday day lives, this relationship does not only exist on the ground but also in the minds of individuals. No matter where we go we are connected to the land and to who we are. Relationships to identity, land, culture, and ways of knowing contribute to Indigenous health and Indigenous language is foundational to each of these relationships. Traditional language has a sacred role and many Indigenous communities assert that their language and culture is what has kept them alive over hundreds of years of colonial rule. The focus of this research is to explore the nêhiyaw (Cree) language and its' relation to health and wellness. This research aims to distinguish strength-based factors that contribute to positive health outcomes; is there a connection of retention and use of the Cree language and does it have implications' to reduce risk factors associated with health disparities in Indigenous communities? This research is grounded in nêhiyaw epistemologies that draw on and makes space for Indigenous peoples' voices and experiences, specifically fluent nêhiyaw speakers in the Treaty 4 territory. Indigenous methodologies in this project include collecting personal narratives through story-telling and sharing circles. Through collaborative and participatory engagement with fluent nêhiyaw speakers we will produce and translate Indigenous knowledge that is foundational to connecting language and wellness as a determinant of health. The results will be shared to promote positive health & wellness narratives through recommendations about the design and implementation of language revitalization programs.