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Mapping Our History

Cartographier notre histoire : notre territoire cri

Cartographier notre histoire : notre territoire cri is a BKC Impact Connector led by Chemawawin Cree Nation that brings together Cree oral histories, traditional place names, and environmental monitoring to support Indigenous-led land-use planning and stewardship.

Through community-led knowledge gathering, the initiative documents Cree place names and the stories, teachings, and relationships connected to the land. By combining Indigenous knowledge with tools such as geographic information systems (GIS) and environmental monitoring, the project creates new ways to understand and protect culturally significant places.

The initiative supports the recognition of Indigenous jurisdiction and decision-making by ensuring that Cree knowledge and priorities guide how information about the territory is collected, shared, and applied. By strengthening connections between generations and supporting community-based research capacity, Mapping Our History demonstrates how knowledge braiding can contribute to stronger relationships with the land and more informed approaches to environmental planning.

Project Lead
Fabian Sinclair
Lands and Trust Resources Manager
Chemawawin Cree Nation

Summary of Overall Project Objectives

  • Identification, Restoration, and Documentation of Cree Place Names – Record and verify place names throughout Chemawawin’s territory, with a focus on areas impacted by flooding, ensuring their preservation for future generations. 
  • Community Engagement and Knowledge Sharing – The project will involve Elders, Knowledge Holders, and community members, fostering intergenerational knowledge transfer and increasing community participation in land stewardship initiatives.
  • Support Language Revitalization and Cultural Continuity – Strengthen the use of Cree language by restoring and promoting traditional place names, reinforcing cultural identity, and encouraging intergenerational knowledge sharing.

  • Mapping Resources Incorporating Cree Place Names – Create digital and physical maps integrating traditional names, making them accessible for land use planning, education, and cultural awareness initiatives.

Summary of Overall Project Outcomes

Immediate

  •  Strengthened Indigenous-Led Research on Place Names – The project will  advance Indigenous-led documentation of place names, contributing to place based research that informs land and resource governance while aligning with  federal priorities on reconciliation and Indigenous self-determination.

  • Braiding of Knowledge Systems – The project will integrate Cree oral history, land-based knowledge, and digital mapping tools, fostering a holistic approach that respects Indigenous knowledge and complements contemporary data collection methods.

  • Promotion of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Research – The initiative will actively involve youth, Elders, knowledge keepers, and Guardians, ensuring diverse representation and intergenerational participation in the research  process.

  • Advancing Truth and Reconciliation Commitments – The restoration of Cree place names directly supports TRC Calls to Action on Indigenous language preservation and UNDRIP principles related to land and cultural identity. 

Intermediate 

  • Building Knowledge Braiding Capacity – The project will enhance skills among Guardians by providing training and opportunities for engagement in place name documentation and mapping, strengthening knowledge-sharing pathways. 
  • Informing Policy and Decision-Making on Indigenous Lands – The  documentation of traditional place names will influence the development of the Cedar Lake Resource Management Area Land Use and Resource Management Plan, ensuring Indigenous knowledge informs land stewardship policies.

Ultimate 

  • Enhancing the Role of Indigenous Knowledge in Public Policy – By documenting and restoring place names, the project will reinforce Indigenous jurisdiction and ensure traditional knowledge contributes to land governance, conservation  planning, and policy development. 
  • Advancing Canada’s Reconciliation Commitments and Expanding the Knowledge Economy – Through the restoration and recognition of Cree place names, the initiative will contribute to broader reconciliation efforts, support  Indigenous cultural and linguistic revitalization, and enrich Canada’s collective understanding of land-based histories and identities. 
  • Ensuring Long-Term Sustainability of Indigenous Knowledge Systems – The  project will establish a framework of place names and related maps securing  this knowledge for future generations.
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Calendrier du projet

Année 1 – Portée et activités

Benchmarks 

  • Create an initial digital database for environmental monitoring and observations build in a component to store documented place names and GPS points. 
  • Host a training workshop for the Guardians on data collection and environmental stewardship, build in a piece on the process of document Cree place names (specific to this project). 
  • Begin fieldwork with Guardians to document place names as a initial low barrier entry to learning the new environmental monitoring database and related field work.  
  • Meet with Elders and Knowledge Keepers for place name verification

 

Résultats

  • Guardians trained in environmental monitoring, as well as place name documentation and data management.
  • A preliminary set of verified place names from oral histories and historical research.
  • Established working relationships with language speakers, knowledge keepers and GIS specialists.
  • Community interest and involvement in this project.

Benchmarks 

  • Continue place name verification through cross-referencing oral knowledge with historical and archival sources.
  • Produce progress reports summarizing findings and engagement activities.
  •  Strengthen community engagement and youth participation through school based learning activities.
  • Host community mapping workshops to refine and validate data.

 

Résultats

  • Increased community participation in identifying traditional place names. 
  • Verified, community-approved set of Cree place names
  • Interactive digital maps and printed maps reflecting traditional land use and names.

Benchmarks 

  • Finalize comprehensive documentation of place names, ensuring accuracy and community approval.
  • Publish printed community maps for educational and cultural preservation purposes.
  • Collaborate with the Resource Management Area planning team to integrate place names into land-use planning.
  • Submit a final project report, including recommendations for future initiatives.
  • Develop a publicly accessible digital platform featuring interactive maps and oral history recordings.

 

Résultats 

  • Officially recognized documentation of Cree place names integrated into governance, education, and land-use planning.
  • Permanent digital and physical records accessible to community members and future generations.
  • Increased recognition of Cree place names in local and regional policy frameworks.