Social and Cultural Development

Improving social conditions for our youth and Elders and supporting our culture and language.

  • The Cree Nation Government plays a vital role in the protection, promotion and expression of Cree culture and language, two aspects of our identity closely linked to the health and dynamism of our communities.

We support a wide range of programs and services to revitalize and empower the people of Eeyou Istchee. We also work proactively with local and regional Cree organizations.

Mandate

Our mandate is to support social and cultural development in Eeyou Istchee. We design programs that address the pressing needs of Cree youth, Elders and women. We also enable sports and recreation programs which are vectors for change in our communities.

To research and honour Cree history and traditions, we’ve implemented programs related to such topics as archaeology and toponymy. We’re also invested in establishing a Cree language commission.

Because we know that our culture and language must be integrated into all spheres of life, we advise on the Hunting, Fishing and Trapping Coordinating Committee, as well as on the Cree Hunters and Trappers Income Security Board.

Role

The department negotiates and manages agreements from several provincial ministries and makes funds available to Cree organizations.

Entities we work with include:

  • the Cree Women of Eeyou Istchee Association
  • the Cree Nation Youth Council
  • the Eeyou Istchee Sports and Recreation Association

We also handle funding agreements with the Ministère de la Culture et des Communications and actively support the Aanischaaukamikw Cree Cultural Institute (ACCI).

Responsibilities

Because our mandate is wide, the Social and Cultural Development Department has responsibilities in various sectors.

Social sector

In order to carry out our mandate, we work hard to support these social endeavours:

  • Programs or agencies that address the needs and quality of life of Cree Elders and women
  • The Eeyou Istchee Sports and Recreation Association
  • The Cree Nation Youth Council

Culture and language sector

Alongside Aanischaaukamikw Cree Cultural Institute, we work diligently to preserve and promote our culture and language, with a focus on the following:

  • Support for Aanischaaukamikw Cree Cultural Institute
  • The establishment of a Cree language commission to strengthen and promote spoken and written Cree in all spheres of life
  • A toponymy database to preserve and use Cree place names
  • An archaeological research program
  • The transmission of Cree knowledge related to the land and to the history of the Crees in Eeyou Istchee
  • Public education programs and publications (electronic and print) related to Cree language and cultural heritage
  • A Cree regional cultural network

Advisory functions

We also uphold a technical and advisory role and in support of the following activities and entities:

  • Land-use planning, protected areas and environmental impact assessment
  • Cree community programs that address toponymy, archaeology and traditional knowledge
  • The Hunting, Fishing and Trapping Coordinating Committee
  • The Cree Hunters and Trappers Income Security Board
  • The ACCI Board of Directors

Where

32 Amisk Street Mistissini, QC, Canada G0W 1C0

Contact us

By phone

Please contact administrative assistant, Charlene Matoush, at Mistissini office.

Tel. : 418-923-3002

Fax : 418-923-2674


By email

Contact - Social and Cultural Development