Grantee Highlight: nēhiyawēwin otāpasinahikēwak māmawinitowin (Nehiyaw Arts Collective) – IYR
To highlight the work Creation Grantees are doing in their communities, the Creation Community Grants Team sends out Q&A forms so they can share their experiences creating and carrying out their projects. Today we are featuring responses from Mackenzie (respondent) and Jennifer from nēhiyawēwin otāpasinahikēwak māmawinitowin (Nehiyaw Arts Collective).
A: The Nehiyaw Language Arts Collective, based in Treaty 7 Territory in Otôskwanihk (Calgary), is a vibrant community of Indigenous Cree artists dedicated to the preservation and revitalization of the Cree language and culture. Established in 2023, the collective has since become a hub for linguistic and artistic exploration, fostering a sense of community, identity, and empowerment among its members.
The weekly gatherings of the Nehiyaw Language Arts Collective are centered around Cree language classes, providing members with the tools, resources, and community to reclaim and revitalize their ancestral language of Cree (Nehiyawewin). This commitment to language reclamation is not only a means of preserving a crucial aspect of Indigenous identity but also serves as a foundation for the group’s artistic endeavors.
