Michael On Michif Country (APTN)

Oct 16

This docuseries explores the unique landscape, culture and language of the Michif community of St. Laurent, M.B. Indigenous celebrities embark on a series of exciting expeditions with the locals and share their own cultures and knowledge.

Last year I got to head out to St Laurent and connect with these amazing Michif community leaders named Earl and Renee. I really enjoyed learning from them about the trap line for both for rabbits and beavers and also sharing language! I think I mixed up some of my Ininew (cree) and Anishinabe (ojibwe) words on the show, but I wanted to celebrate language while I was with them as much as possible. The reason the trap line and the language were so important to me is because when I visited Shamattawa, my home First Nation, in the past I was told that the teachings I needed were in the language and on the trap line.

In addition, I got to visit some of the early child hood educators at the “Aboriginal Head Start” in St Laurent that shared how they are raising the young ones in the community to be connected to and proud of their culture. It was such a meaningful experience to see how lucky these kids were to have this head start opportunity while living in a rural community like St Laurent emphasizing their relationship with the land.

I am grateful to Michif Country, our hosts and all involved who made this awesome APTN show come to a reality.