Freda Ahenakew
Encyclopedia
Freda Ahenakew, is a Canadian
author and academic of Cree
descent. She is a sister-in-law to the political activist David Ahenakew
.
, she had twelve children when she received a Bachelor of Education
from the University of Saskatchewan
in 1979. From 1976 to 1981, she taught at the Saskatchewan Indian Cultural College, the Lac La Ronge Band, and the Saskatchewan survival school.
In 1984, she received a Master of Arts in Cree linguistics from the University of Manitoba
, working closely with Professor H.C. Wolfart
. From 1983 to 1985, she was an assistant professor at the University of Saskatchewan. From 1985 to 1989, she was the director of the Saskatchewan Indian Languages Institute. From 1989 to 1996, she was a professor in native studies at the University of Manitoba.
In 1998, she was made a Member of the Order of Canada
. In 2005, she was awarded the Saskatchewan Order of Merit
. In 1997, she was awarded an honorary
Doctor of Laws from the University of Saskatchewan.
Freda Ahenakew was born on the Ahtahkakoop First Nation in 1932. She received her early education at the Sandy Lake Day School and the Prince Albert Collegiate Institute in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. Freda has twelve children. When her children were dropping out of high school, Freda decided to be a role model and headed back to school with her children and finished high school with them. She later went on to the University of Saskatchewan and graduated with a Bachelor of Education in 1979 and the University of Manitoba with a Master of Arts in Cree Linguistics in 1984.
Freda has taught at the SICC, Lac La Ronge First Nation and the Saskatoon Survival School. From 1983-1985, she was an Assistant Professor at the University of Saskatchewan, and then became the Director of the Saskatchewan Indian Languages Institute from 1985-89. From 1989 to 1996, she was an Associate Professor of Native Studies at the University of Manitoba and was Head of the Department of Native Studies from 1990-95. Freda then moved back to Saskatchewan to work as a First Nations Language Consultant to the Prince Albert Grand Council until her retirement in 1997.
Plains Cree is Freda's first language and she has subsequently studied English and French. She is recognized as one of the most distinguished Aboriginal scholars in Canada. Freda's work on the language, culture and history of the Crees range from two classroom readers and workbooks used in schools across the country to popular lectures, children's books and technical and scholarly research papers on language and linguistics. Her published thesis, Cree Language Structures, has been reprinted seventeen times and is a unique guide to the teaching of an Aboriginal language through the use of literary texts.
By focusing on transcription, analysis and translation of traditional stories and autobiographical accounts- especially women's life experiences- she has prepared them for publication in Cree with an English translation. All collected stories are published as told to Freda, in the Elders' own words.
In 1997, the University of Saskatchewan awarded Freda an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree to recognize the work that Freda has done to preserve and protect the Cree language. Most recently, the Governor General of Canada named Dr. Ahenakew to the Order of Canada, for her work in preserving the survival of the Cree language and culture, the highest honor bestowed on a citizen in this country. "Your language gives you an inner strength, a pride in your heritage, when able to speak it, even a little bit".
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
author and academic of Cree
Cree
The Cree are one of the largest groups of First Nations / Native Americans in North America, with 200,000 members living in Canada. In Canada, the major proportion of Cree live north and west of Lake Superior, in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and the Northwest Territories, although...
descent. She is a sister-in-law to the political activist David Ahenakew
David Ahenakew
David Ahenakew was a Canadian First Nations politician, and former National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations.Ahenakew was born at the Sandy Lake Indian Reserve in Saskatchewan...
.
Biography
Born in Ahtahkakoop (Sandy Lake), SaskatchewanSaskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
, she had twelve children when she received a Bachelor of Education
Bachelor of Education
A Bachelor of Education is an undergraduate academic degree which qualifies the graduate as a teacher in schools.-North America:...
from the University of Saskatchewan
University of Saskatchewan
The University of Saskatchewan is a Canadian public research university, founded in 1907, and located on the east side of the South Saskatchewan River in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. An "Act to establish and incorporate a University for the Province of Saskatchewan" was passed by the...
in 1979. From 1976 to 1981, she taught at the Saskatchewan Indian Cultural College, the Lac La Ronge Band, and the Saskatchewan survival school.
In 1984, she received a Master of Arts in Cree linguistics from the University of Manitoba
University of Manitoba
The University of Manitoba , in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, is the largest university in the province of Manitoba. It is Manitoba's most comprehensive and only research-intensive post-secondary educational institution. It was founded in 1877, making it Western Canada’s first university. It placed...
, working closely with Professor H.C. Wolfart
H.C. Wolfart
H. Christoph Wolfart is a German-born Canadian researcher, editor, translator and Distinguished Professor of Linguistics at the University of Manitoba. He is a graduate of the University of Freiburg as well as Cornell University. He completed a Ph.D...
. From 1983 to 1985, she was an assistant professor at the University of Saskatchewan. From 1985 to 1989, she was the director of the Saskatchewan Indian Languages Institute. From 1989 to 1996, she was a professor in native studies at the University of Manitoba.
In 1998, she was made a Member of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
. In 2005, she was awarded the Saskatchewan Order of Merit
Saskatchewan Order of Merit
The Saskatchewan Order of Merit is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. Instituted in 1985 by Lieutenant Governor Frederick Johnson, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier Grant Devine, the order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is intended to...
. In 1997, she was awarded an honorary
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
Doctor of Laws from the University of Saskatchewan.
Freda Ahenakew was born on the Ahtahkakoop First Nation in 1932. She received her early education at the Sandy Lake Day School and the Prince Albert Collegiate Institute in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. Freda has twelve children. When her children were dropping out of high school, Freda decided to be a role model and headed back to school with her children and finished high school with them. She later went on to the University of Saskatchewan and graduated with a Bachelor of Education in 1979 and the University of Manitoba with a Master of Arts in Cree Linguistics in 1984.
Freda has taught at the SICC, Lac La Ronge First Nation and the Saskatoon Survival School. From 1983-1985, she was an Assistant Professor at the University of Saskatchewan, and then became the Director of the Saskatchewan Indian Languages Institute from 1985-89. From 1989 to 1996, she was an Associate Professor of Native Studies at the University of Manitoba and was Head of the Department of Native Studies from 1990-95. Freda then moved back to Saskatchewan to work as a First Nations Language Consultant to the Prince Albert Grand Council until her retirement in 1997.
Plains Cree is Freda's first language and she has subsequently studied English and French. She is recognized as one of the most distinguished Aboriginal scholars in Canada. Freda's work on the language, culture and history of the Crees range from two classroom readers and workbooks used in schools across the country to popular lectures, children's books and technical and scholarly research papers on language and linguistics. Her published thesis, Cree Language Structures, has been reprinted seventeen times and is a unique guide to the teaching of an Aboriginal language through the use of literary texts.
By focusing on transcription, analysis and translation of traditional stories and autobiographical accounts- especially women's life experiences- she has prepared them for publication in Cree with an English translation. All collected stories are published as told to Freda, in the Elders' own words.
In 1997, the University of Saskatchewan awarded Freda an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree to recognize the work that Freda has done to preserve and protect the Cree language. Most recently, the Governor General of Canada named Dr. Ahenakew to the Order of Canada, for her work in preserving the survival of the Cree language and culture, the highest honor bestowed on a citizen in this country. "Your language gives you an inner strength, a pride in your heritage, when able to speak it, even a little bit".
Selected bibliography
- Cree Language Structures: A Cree Approach. Winnipeg: University of Manitoba Press (1987)
- "wâskahikaniwiyiniw-âcimowina / Stories of the House People. Winnipeg: University of Manitoba Press" (1987) Coeditor.
- How the Birch Tree Got its Stripes: A Cree Story for Children (1988)
- How the Mouse Got Brown Teeth: A Cree Story for Children (1988)
- kôhkominawak otâcimowiniwâwa. Winnipeg: University of Manitoba Press (1992) Coeditor.
- "kinêhiyâwiwininaw nêhiyawêwin / The Cree Language Is Our Identity: The La Ronge Lectures of Sarah Whitecalf. Winnipeg: University of Manitoba Press" (1993) Coeditor.
- Their example showed me the way (1997) Coeditor.
- Wisahkecahk Flies to the Moon (1999)
- âh-âyîtaw isi ê-kî-kiskêyihtahkik maskihkiy / They Knew Both Sides of Medicine: Cree Tales of Curing and Cursing Told by Alice Ahenakew (2000) Coeditor.
- ana kâ-pimwêwêhahk okakêskihkêmowina / The Counseling Speeches of Jim Kâ-Nîpitêhtêw (2007) Coeditor.