26 The READ Winter 2015–16

Sarah PASHAGUMSKUM’89 champions Cree culture and heritage

PRESERVING ‘THE WAYS’

BY JANET SAILIAN

A S SARAH PASHAGUMSKUM steadfastly followed a path from her home community in northern Quebec to Brank-some Hall and far beyond, she

had one abiding dream: to work to maintain the Cree culture and language and share it with the world.

Now she fulfills that dream by offering authentic, innovative programs in the stun-ning facilities of the Aanischaaukamikw Cree Cultural Institute in Oujé-Bougoumou, Que-bec, where she is executive director. (Aan-ischaa: passing traditional knowledge from generation to generation; Kamikw: home/building.) The soaring 30,000-square-foot institute, built from wood and glass in the style of a long communal tent, embodies the James Bay Crees’ commitment to preserve and transmit the ways of the people that have resided on this land for 7,000 years.

Sarah’s transition from the small Cree community of Chisasibi to Branksome Hall’s Toronto campus might have daunted a less grounded person. But she was poised to thrive at Branksome when she arrived as a Grade 7 student in 1985.

Her parents had noted a particular focus and drive in their daughter. They sought a school that would build on her potential and prepare her for post-secondary education. “My mother has family in Toronto that knew of Branksome,” says Sarah. “My parents appreciated that the school is built around empowerment for girls.”

Sarah took to heart the hopes and expectations of her parents and her commu-nity in sending her so far for an education. “My time at Branksome was focused on goal setting and personal development,” she says. “We were encouraged to develop our abilities to think critically and frame our own

perspective. I met girls from all over the globe in residence, and that helped broaden my view of the world.”

After graduating from Grade 13, Sarah obtained both a B.A. and B.Ed. from the University of Toronto. Home, family and community called her back to Chisasibi to teach for several years and co-author a secondary school history textbook. She also worked as a consultant on teacher evaluation and program development before travelling to Lakehead University to earn a Master’s and a Ph.D. in Educational Studies.

Due to her renown as an educator devoted to cultural maintenance, Sarah was named director of programs for the newly created Aanischaaukamikw in 2012. The building’s construction had followed an impressive fundraising campaign that netted over $25 million, including major donations from the Canadian, Quebec and Cree governments, industry and philanthropic foundations, and individuals. To leaders of the institute’s charitable foundation, such strong support demonstrates the important role philanthropy

The Aanischaaukamikw Cree Cultural Institute in Oujé-Bougoumou, Quebec, is a soaring 30,000-square-foot structure, built from wood and glass in the style of a long communal tent.

The READ Winter 2015–16 27

“It’s important to present culture in ways that are accessible to non-Native people,” says Sarah. “We all share experiences such as child rearing and the cycle of life.”

now developing a travelling exhibit themed around the importance of walking in our culture—ceremonially, as a rite of passage, in traditional technologies and as part of political movements.”

The museum at Aanischaaukamikw houses hundreds of Cree artifacts, which can be viewed on its lively website (creecultura-linstitute.ca). From utilitarian snowshoes, tools and tents to graceful goose decoys, exquisitely crafted and beaded clothing and whimsical children’s toys, the items speak a universal language.

“It’s important to present culture in ways that are accessible to non-Native people,” says Sarah. “We show commonalities to help people make practical and emotional connec-tions. We all share experiences such as child rearing and the cycle of life.”

In her own life, Sarah follows a busy cycle of travel between her home community of Chisasibi, the Cree Cultural Institute in Oujé-Bougoumou and the national capital in Ottawa. “It’s an eight-hour drive, but travelling back and forth allows me to work more easily with our national and provincial partners and supporters.”

Her four children—ages 11, 12, 13 and 16—attend school in Ottawa and maintain a strong attachment to their roots. “My children speak Cree,” says Sarah. “Keeping them involved in Cree culture has been a key part of their upbringing. They have taken part in important cultural events and traditional activities.”

“We particularly love going to our spring camp every year. There is usually a walking out ceremony—the first time a child will walk on Mother Earth—that the extended family takes part in to celebrate the lives of new children. All of my own children did this when they were about a year old.”

Sarah’s wealth of experiences in Cree communities, along with her education and commitment to tradition, greatly enrich the influence of Aanischaaukamikw. With Sarah at the helm of the institute, keeping and shar-ing Cree Ways across generations, cultures and geography is assured. I

Janet Sailian is a freelance writer and editor.

can play in First Nations development. They have since launched a $13 million endowment campaign to build a substantial permanent collection at Aanischaaukamikw and to support its operations and outreach.

Sarah is at the forefront of this growth and development. In May 2015, she became executive director of Aanischaaukamikw (pronounced “Anishdakamook”), leading the institute’s museum, programs and outreach to Cree communities and to Canadian and international institutions.

“The Cree community is one of the stron-gest First Nations in Canada,” Sarah notes. “Much of our culture and language have

Sarah, in front of the Aanischaaukamikw Cree Cultural Institute.

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survived through keeping and sharing what Cree Elders term ‘the Ways’.”

Already, the institute is making its mark. In 2015, it received the Canadian Museums Association’s Award of Outstanding Achieve-ment in Education for the project Mind’s Eye: Stories from the Heart of Eeyou Istchee, a travelling theatrical production directed by Cree playwright Shirley Cheechoo and performed by young Cree actors.

Aanischaaukamikw has also earned recognition from the Quebec Ministry of Culture and the Canadian Ministry of Heritage. Says Sarah: “We maintain very high standards for all the work we do. We are