Kôhkominawak Otâcimowiniwâwa / Our Grandmothers' Lives as Told in Their Own Words

Provides insights into traditional Cree ways of life and the damage done by colonialism

kôkominawak otâcimowiniwâwa / Our Grandmothers' Lives is a collection of reminiscences and personal stories from the daily lives of seven Cree women over the past century, presented here in Cree and English. Faithfully transcribed and translated, their voices illustrate the prominent role women had in Cree society, accurately describe a way of life that existed for centuries, and speak to the decline of social cohesion, deprivation, and destruction caused by colonialism.

Originally recorded in Cree in the 1980s, these women share their memories of their lives and the history of their peoples, describing activities such as household chores, snaring rabbits and picking berries, going to school, marriage, bearing and raising children, and providing insights into the traditional teachings of a society in which the practical and spiritual are never far apart.


About the Author

Freda Ahenakew (1932-2011) earned her MA in Cree linguistics at the University of Manitoba and was a founding director of the Saskatchewan Indian Languages Institute. Awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Saskatchewan in 1997, she was considered a leader in Indigenous language preservation and literary heritage preservation in Canada. She was made a member of the Order of Canada in 1998.

H.C. Wolfart is Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Linguistics at the University of Manitoba.