Kokum Calls You

Each year, students in the Indigenous Education: A Call to Action Master of Education program are invited to take part in an awareness-raising initiative focused on Indigenous issues. For many years, the cohorts chose to take part in an on-campus iteration of Jaime Black’s REDress Project. This year, the cohort chose something new: the Kokum Calls You project. 

Kokum, also spelled kookum, is the Cree word for grandmother and the brightly coloured floral pattern scarves symbolize the longstanding relationship between Indigenous and Ukrainian communities. 

While Ukrainian settlers were sometimes shunned by other settlers in Canada, they were welcomed by the Cree. This respect and friendship resulted in commercial and cultural exchanges that saw both peoples through difficult times. In due course, the Cree, and other Indigenous nations, adopted the Ukrainian hustka as the kokum scarf. 

Dr. Yvonne Poitras Pratt, PhD’11, Werklund School of Education professor and UCalgary Research Excellence Chair, taught the program with Wanda First Rider, Kainai (Blackfoot) Elder, and Dr. Jennifer Markides, PhD’20, SSHRC Tier 2 Canada Research Chair of Indigenous Youth Wellbeing and Education. Poitras Pratt says undertaking experiential learning allows students to reflect on the importance of what they are learning in terms of Indigenous education and then to actively engage in reconciliatory practice. 

“The creation and delivery of the Kokum Calls You project gives students a first-hand opportunity to take part in a public-facing initiative that moves them out of the confines of the classroom and into our campus community.” 

Beginning with ceremony

Poitras Pratt first presented the idea to Kainai Elder First Rider for approval before the cohort discussed the idea and collectively agreed on the kokum scarves. First Rider was quite familiar with the scarves as they have a significant place of honour in Blackfoot culture. 

“Growing up, I saw the scarves all the time being worn in ceremony,” she says. “The kokum scarf is not new to me, it is very symbolic.

“I think it is good that the class is using it to learn more about our Indigenous issues.” 

The project officially began with First Rider providing a blessing and explaining the importance of the scarf within local Indigenous communities.

Poitras Pratt says First Rider’s wisdom is fundamental to the success of the project and the program.

“As a ceremonialist, Elder First Rider carries traditional knowledge and first-hand experience as a residential school survivor. Her daily and ongoing presence and involvement in our program is essential as she fills in the gaps in knowledge that many academics simply do not have. Without her, both the instructors and the students would miss out on vital information requisite to moving this work forward.”

Calls to action

In the context of the master’s program, the scarves are employed as a tool to respond to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s 94 Calls to Action. 

Poitras Pratt says the project brings attention to the Calls to Action, many of them at risk of being forgotten, and the shared responsibility we hold to make positive change.

“The Kokum Calls You project is a reminder of how we can individually support one another to advance a vision of shared humanity,” she says. “In recent years, I have been gifted with a number of kokum scarves from friends and family and it occurred to me that these beautiful emblems of solidarity could carry their own powerful message.” 

To meet this goal, each student either wrote a personal message of solidarity with Indigenous peoples or embedded a QR code linking to online resources on an accompanying poster.

Nicole Cameron’s scarf addresses the importance of supporting Indigenous land and water defenders and has a link to an Amnesty International Canada petition. 

“Land is important and sacred to many Indigenous peoples, which is reflected in some of the other kokum scarves actions. As a settler who grew up on a farm and whose grandparents all farmed in Alberta, I love the land and what it provides for us if we take care of it,” she says. 

Brooke Lingnau calls individuals to take the time to educate themselves around environmental issues and links to the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society. 

“As a Western culture we view the land and animals as ‘it,’ disconnecting ourselves from these other beings and consuming them in a detached way,” she says. “By educating ourselves on land conservation, my hope is to break down this barrier and adapt a more Indigenous perspective of reciprocity where we give back to the land and animals in addition to making more conscious choices.”

The scarves and accompanying messages can be found attached to trees outside the Education Tower and Classroom Block. They can also be viewed on the Kokum Calls You website.