Youth Culture & Traditions Project
28 Amisk P0L 1W0 Moose Factory, ON, Canada

Today, our Cree word/phrase of the day is ni šîhkacin ... I am cold. The š is pronounced sh îh is pronounced similarly to the i in machine The a is pronounced like the u in cut The c is pronounced ch Cree has its own sounds and I can only provide an approximate sound in English.

This is the second step to moose hide preparations! Scraping the meat and hair off a hide. Keep checking our pages for more pictures to come.

Medicine Wheel - East Yellow PHYSICAL As indigenous people we have our own health system that is still present and used this day. This health system covers everything from mental health to medicine and everything between. The medicine wheel talks about this health system. In the east (yellow) sits one part to our health system, Physical health (our body). ... We only get one body so it is important we look after it physically. We can do this by playing sports, going for walks, running, hunting and cutting wood to name a few. There is lots we can do to keep active and look after our body. Another part of our physical health is the food we put into out body. Sugar, wheat etc. is not included into our original diet (yes! Even bannock & dumplings ) Our traditional diet was fish, caribou, waterfowl, berries etc.. which is a very high fat diet that is now today being more studied and increasing attention in modern diets. This part of the medicine wheel teaching is just a small part of our health system’ that we have and will be talking about in the coming days.

This is a step after drying the hide after soaking and stretching it in soapy water (Originally Moose brain) If it turns out soft enough the hide will be ready for smoking. If we can't get it soft enough we will soak it again, stretch and beat it until it is soft.

Medicine Wheel North Rock The rock represents the fourth teaching of the medicine wheel, strength. Recently we talked about the other 3 teachings, Kindness, honesty and sharing. We were all giving these things and we all have the capability to use these tools. Every day we should be kind, be honest and share whenever we can. Then you will understand the last one, Strength, and be a strong person. Also, you will have strong friendships, strong relationships.... All these things are on the land where creator put them. If you go to the ceremonies, you will see all these things Try everyday to use these tools and see what happens for yourself