Allyson Brinston enjoyed her Anthropology Honours project on Indigenous language revitalization so much that she decided to continue her research with an independent study, shifting her focus to childhood language learning.
Her research introduced her to Christina Buffalo, program coordinator for the Young Indigenous Women’s Circle of Leadership (YIWCL), and Knowledge Keeper Susan Sinclair. Brinston was able to volunteer at a Cree games workshop with the organization, where she learned about the value of traditional games as well as the relationship between play, arts and crafts, and language.
“I saw how the Knowledge Keepers and Elder Margaret Cardinal interacted with the participants, explaining the game's cultural significance and what the materials were in Cree,” she says. Those observations inspired her to host her own games workshop to align with her research, which she was able to fund through a Student Community Engagement Grant.
On May 11, Brinston saw her hard work and planning come to fruition. She used the grant to provide honorariums to the Knowledge Keepers and Elders from YIWCL who helped her to plan and execute the workshop, and hired Indigenous catering company, Pei Pei Chei Ow to provide traditional meals. She also organized prizes for game winners, and each participant received a care package that included a backpack, water bottle and some paper guides for using the Cree language. Over 50 participants attended the workshop, including 25 children.
“Receiving this grant was an absolute joy for me and everyone involved in getting to this point. As a non-Indigenous person working in a research field involving Indigenous peoples, giving back meaningfully to the communities that helped me with my work was incredibly important,” says Brinston. “This grant contributed to bringing families together in a safe cultural space.”
Attendees learned to play four traditional Cree games at the event: Ring the Stick, Matchstick Pull, Stick and Pull, and Run and Scream.
“Children learn specific skills and lessons through play. Some games teach essential skills such as target practice, hand-eye coordination, agility and dexterity,” says Brinston. “They are also vital in maintaining good physical health and the mental development of community members.”
Ultimately, her focus is still on language learning. Brinston is pursuing a master’s in Anthropology this fall at the University of Alberta, and aims to provide more workshops like this in order to promote the use of Cree language and traditions.
“If each participant who attends the workshop takes home a new phrase or word in Cree that they are confident in saying, I believe the workshop was worth every second.”
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