Our Teachings
Keeping our wisdom, our ways and our stories alive for future generations
Welcome / Tawâw
Our Teachings is a resource for members, educators and our Mikisew family around the world. It is a place for our knowledge-keepers to commit their wisdom and memories to a digital format for prosperity, and our hope is that you find a deeper connection to our Nation through sharing in this knowledge. Thank you to language experts Terry Marten and Julia Gibot for your help. Check back often as we continue to add and evolve our resources.
The resources housed here are designed to educate and inspire in classrooms, homes and communities where people have a desire to learn about the Mikisew people including:
- Our Sacred Virtues
- Items of cultural significance
- Stories and memories from our Elders
- The Cree language
Our Teachings was created and is maintained by Elder Rita Marten
Rita has spent her life as an educator and advocate for Indigenous culture and language preservation. She is a survivor of Holy Angels Indian Residential School and was elected as Mikisew’s first female Chief in 1986.
The Sacred Virtues
Our Sacred Virtues help us to live a life enriched by positive interactions and experiences. To put it simply, they show us how to be good people. They also help us foster empathy and a deeper understanding of the animals we share the land with and the lessons they can teach us.
Cultural Item Questionnaires
Items which were once common and important in our community are becoming increasingly rare, some are no longer used at all. We set out to document these items by photographing them, talking about them and naming them in Cree to ensure they are not forgotten. These questionnaires can be used as teaching resources or as a way for community members to document these items for their own family.
Household Goods
Outdoor Items
Stories and Other Resources
Our Teachings are an evolving resource that we are adding to all the time
If there’s something you think we should add or something you’d like to learn about, please contact us.
We would love to hear from you!
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| Justin Martin (Deceased 1909) | 1899 to 1909 |
| Justin Martin, Jr. (Resigned 1930) | 1909 to 1930 |
| Felix (Pierre) Guillaume (Whitehead) (Deceased 1941) | 1930 to 1941 |
| John Cowie | 1942 to 1968 |
| Ernest (Courtoreille) Wittago | 1968 to 1970 |
| Albert Gladue | 1970 to 1974 |
| John James Courtoreille | 1974 to 1976 |
| Archie Waquan (Resigned 1976) | 1976 to 1976 |
| Sammy Tuccaro (Resigned 1977) | 1976 to 1977 |
| Cecilia Simpson (Interim Chief) | 1977 to 1977 |
| Albert Gladue | 1977 to 1978 |
| Lawrence Courtoreille | 1978 to 1979 |
| Lloyd (John R.) Antoine | 1979 to 1980 |
| Lawrence Courtoreille | 1980 to 1984 |
| Archie Waquan | 1984 to 1986 |
| Rita Marten | 1986 to 1989 |
| Mathew Lepine | 1989 to 1990 |
| Archie Waquan | 1990 to 1993 |
| Lawrence Vermillion | 1993 to 1996 |
| Archie Waquan | 1996 to 1999 |
| George Poitras | 1999 to 2002 |
| Archie Waquan | 2002 to 2005 |
| Roxanne Marcel | 2005 to 2008 |
| Roxanne Marcel | 2008 to 2011 |
| Steve Courtoreille | 2011 to 2014 |
| Steve Courtoreille | 2014 to 2017 |
| Archie Waquan | 2017 to 2020 |
| Peter Powder (Resigned 2022) | 2020 to 2022 |