This workshop shares various stages of life and that for each of these stages of our life cycle, there are teachings for each such as healthy development, traditional milestones, and the role that a person has within their family and community.

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DARLENE AUGER

Darlene Auger  was born and raised in Desmarais/Wabasca and left home at the age of 20 to further her education. She majored in Psychology at the University of Albert and graduated in 2002. She always had a keen interest in spirituality, healing, early childhood development; in developing cultural materials and curriculum; research and in the performing arts. Her upbringing was affected by relative’s attendance at the St. Martin’s Indian Residential School in Desmarais. She was witness of this era and now holds life learning within her that this fuels her passion to heal to regain her indigeneity and help others to heal and regain their indigeneity.

 

She knows the Cree language and know how to write syllabics. Having the ability to speak and write in Cree has benefited her greatly in both her personal and professional life. She often get called upon to translate documents, to create Cree curriculum, to sing in Cree, and most importantly, she is able to sit comfortably with Elders in ceremony and understand what they are saying.

 

She is able to grasp teachings and maintain cultural ties to her people and to the land. I feel very sad for my peers who are not able to understand or speak our language because they experience such a huge disconnect from our Elders, our ceremonies, our ways of being, our culture, and our spirit. Language and culture go hand in hand; one cannot be truly grasped without the other. Through a spiritual vision, she knew her work would be with the (wîwîp’son) (cradle/hammock). After fasting, she birthed and developed “swing therapy” for adults and children. She also has her home-based consulting company “Pītāpan Consulting”t hat assists in community development through research; material and curriculum development; program and project development, evaluation and Cree language teaching, translating including SRO and Syllabics. She completed a doctorate program at the University Nuhelotine Thaiyotsin Nistameyimakanak Blue Quills called: Iyiniw Pimatisiwin Kiskeyihtamowin (Indigneous Life Knowledge). She hopes to train other women to help carry on the work.