Interconnection with Dr. Belinda (Kakiyosēw) Daniels

Air Date: August 6, 2022

Summary

This is the final episode of the four part language revitalization series. In this episode, sibling duo Alicia Morrow and Lexie Obey dive deeper into the meaning of interconnectedness. The Cree language is inseparable from the land, and Dr. Belinda Daniels provides the sisters with a variety of examples to further expand their knowledge. Dr. Daniels also gives them new insight on their reclaiming journey.

kinanâskomitin Herman,

your comeback sisters.

SERIES

The Comeback Society

HOSTS & PRODUCERS
Alicia Morrow
Lexie Obey

Episode Guest

Raised by her maternal grandparents, Dr. Belinda (kakiyosēw) Daniels is from the community of pakitahwākan sākahikan - Sturgeon Lake First Nation, SK. Later in life after under graduate studies, she began a journey in nēhiyawēwin (Cree) language recovery, inspired by having and raising her family. She is self-taught and now teaches others how to teach and learn a second Indigenous Language with the University of Victoria and through a not-for-profit organization called nēhiyawak Language Experience, which she founded 18 years ago.

Belinda is a Ph.D. from the University of Saskatchewan of the Interdisciplinary Department, Graduate Studies. She holds the Canadian Teachers Federation, Outstanding Indigenous Educator Award of 2015, has been recognized globally and was one of the top 50 finalists for the Global Teacher Prize of 2016.

The most recent project completed by Dr. Daniels was at a national level for the National Center for Collaboration on Indigenous Education (nccie.ca) where she wrote curriculum for approximately two years in the all-subject areas for the k-12 school system and was the lead for Indigenous languages. She recently co-published a ‘How to’ create a language camp guide book, free and accessible to anyone wanting to start a language camp. Belinda is in the midst of co-authoring her first book about language recovery in the home. She is also a published researcher.

Belinda volunteers on several boards such as Foundation for Endangered Languages (FEL Canada) where she was the past President, now a member-at-large. She also serves as a member for the Canadian Modern Language Editorial Board and is a collaborator and researcher for NETOLNEW, an organization committed to working on building capacity among Indigenous people to maintain, revitalize and strengthen nation-wide efforts for Indigenous languages of Canada. She has continuously demonstrated commitment to service by actively being involved at all levels of engagement with board work, in the past, she volunteered with Citizen Advisory Committee for the Regional Psychiatric Centre & the Saskatoon, SK Parole Office. She also sat and advised for Station 20 West, Saskatoon United Way Foundation, Dr. Sterling McDowell Foundation, and of course for her First Nations community of Sturgeon Lake First Nation. SK. Belinda is a peer mentor for new and up and coming educators at a community and national level. Belinda is married, with four children and a new grandchild. Belinda is grateful in being a visitor to the island of Victoria where she acknowledges her responsibility to the local people, to the lands and waters, and to all of the living Spirits seen and unseen who live here and does the best she can to be a positive presence here.

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