In an effort to make sure the Cree language isn’t lost, over 200 educators, community leaders, youths and policy makers are gathering for this week’s two-day Keep Our Language Alive conference at Dakota Dunes Resort.

Milton Tootoosis, founder of the conference, says attendees will get to participate in a full slate of presentations and discussions about how Cree language can be implemented both at school and in the home.

“It’s part of our decolonization process, and it’s part of the solution to addressing some of the social challenges that many of our people are experiencing because of the Indian Residential School experience, as an example.”

Tootoosis says many older people forgo learning a new language as if it’s too late, which is contributing to the crisis.

“There’s young people, middle-aged people, and some older people that have been successful at it. (This conference) is to hopefully raise awareness that it’s never too late, it can be done.”

He reminds fellow Cree people that the language isn’t dead, it is just asleep, and it’s conferences like this that work to reawaken it.

“Knowing who you are is first and foremost. Language is core to any culture. If you lose your language, you’ve lost your culture.”

He adds that although this conference is beneficial to get discussions going, financial commitments from the federal government are also needed to ensure Cree culture doesn’t die.

“We need to remind political leaders at the highest level that if you’re going to have legislation, and you’re truly committed to truth and reconciliation and cultural preservation of the Indigenous people… they also need to make a financial commitment.”