Aug. 2, 2024
Kokum Calls You
Each year, students in the Master of Education program are invited to take part in an awareness-raising initiative focused on Indigenous issues. For many years, the cohorts chose to take part in an on-campus iteration of Jaime Black鈥檚 REDress Project. This year, the cohort chose something new: the Kokum Calls You project.
Kokum, also spelled kookum, is the Cree word for grandmother and the brightly coloured floral pattern scarves symbolize the longstanding relationship between Indigenous and Ukrainian communities.
While Ukrainian settlers were sometimes shunned by other settlers in Canada, they were welcomed by the Cree. This respect and friendship resulted in commercial and cultural exchanges that saw both peoples through difficult times. In due course, the Cree, and other Indigenous nations, adopted the Ukrainian hustka as the kokum scarf.
Werklund School of Education professor and 草莓污视频导航 Research Excellence Chair, taught the program with Wanda First Rider, Kainai (Blackfoot) Elder, and SSHRC Tier 2 Canada Research Chair of Indigenous Youth Wellbeing and Education. Poitras Pratt says undertaking experiential learning allows students to reflect on the importance of what they are learning in terms of Indigenous education and then to actively engage in reconciliatory practice.
鈥淭he creation and delivery of the Kokum Calls You project gives students a first-hand opportunity to take part in a public-facing initiative that moves them out of the confines of the classroom and into our campus community.鈥
Beginning with ceremony
Poitras Pratt first presented the idea to Kainai Elder First Rider for approval before the cohort discussed the idea and collectively agreed on the kokum scarves. First Rider was quite familiar with the scarves as they have a significant place of honour in Blackfoot culture.
鈥淕rowing up, I saw the scarves all the time being worn in ceremony,鈥 she says. 鈥淭he kokum scarf is not new to me, it is very symbolic.
鈥淚 think it is good that the class is using it to learn more about our Indigenous issues.鈥
The project officially began with First Rider providing a blessing and explaining the importance of the scarf within local Indigenous communities.
Poitras Pratt says First Rider鈥檚 wisdom is fundamental to the success of the project and the program.
鈥淎s a ceremonialist, Elder First Rider carries traditional knowledge and first-hand experience as a residential school survivor. Her daily and ongoing presence and involvement in our program is essential as she fills in the gaps in knowledge that many academics simply do not have. Without her, both the instructors and the students would miss out on vital information requisite to moving this work forward.鈥
Mary Kate MacIsaac, Werklund School of Education
Calls to action
In the context of the master鈥檚 program, the scarves are employed as a tool to respond to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada鈥檚 94 Calls to Action.
Poitras Pratt says the project brings attention to the Calls to Action, many of them at risk of being forgotten, and the shared responsibility we hold to make positive change.
鈥淭he Kokum Calls You project is a reminder of how we can individually support one another to advance a vision of shared humanity,鈥 she says. 鈥淚n recent years, I have been gifted with a number of kokum scarves from friends and family and it occurred to me that these beautiful emblems of solidarity could carry their own powerful message.鈥
To meet this goal, each student either wrote a personal message of solidarity with Indigenous peoples or embedded a QR code linking to online resources on an accompanying poster.
Nicole Cameron鈥檚 scarf addresses the importance of supporting Indigenous land and water defenders and has a link to an Amnesty International Canada petition.
鈥淟and is important and sacred to many Indigenous peoples, which is reflected in some of the other kokum scarves actions. As a settler who grew up on a farm and whose grandparents all farmed in Alberta, I love the land and what it provides for us if we take care of it,鈥 she says.
Brooke Lingnau calls individuals to take the time to educate themselves around environmental issues and links to the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society.
鈥淎s a Western culture we view the land and animals as 鈥榠t,鈥 disconnecting ourselves from these other beings and consuming them in a detached way,鈥 she says. 鈥淏y educating ourselves on land conservation, my hope is to break down this barrier and adapt a more Indigenous perspective of reciprocity where we give back to the land and animals in addition to making more conscious choices.鈥
The scarves and accompanying messages can be found attached to trees outside the Education Tower and Classroom Block. They can also be viewed on the website.