“ē-nitomikoyahkik kakīwēyahk [They’re Calling Us Home]”: Kinship, Land, and Wellness in Indigenous Language Revitalization

Abstract

This paper examines the experiences of adult participants in the nēhiyawak Language Experience (nLE), a land-based Cree language immersion camp aimed at reclaiming nēhiyawēwin (Cree). Using Indigenous methodology, this study explores the following question: What are the experiences of adult learners and teachers in a land-based nēhiyawēwin immersion camp? The research design is based on a co-researcher model, where six participants (three learners and three teachers) engaged in a collaborative process of reflection and storytelling. Through three sharing circles held over a year, we shared stories of our camp experiences, then co-transcribed and analyzed these stories. Our study emphasizes relationship-building and nēhiyaw protocols as central to Indigenous knowledge generation. We address three key themes in this paper – kinship, land, and wellness – and demonstrate how these elements contribute to language learning and well-being. By situating the research within Indigenous epistemologies, this paper offers valuable insights into the role of land-based language camps in supporting language resurgence and fostering community wellness. It also provides recommendations for language practitioners, communities, and researchers committed to Indigenous language revitalization.

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