Kasayak The Wise Ones

Abstract

In Cree there are two translations for “Elder.” There is kachayak that refers to “old people,” and there is also kasayak that means, “the wise ones.” This collection of stories stems from numerous interviews conducted with a selection of Saskatchewan’s First Nations Elders, the Wise Ones. Those interviews, completed over the span of a year, were done without format or agenda and in this way more so resembled conversations than formal interviews. Those conversations were recorded in accordance to traditional beliefs and the transcriptions of those conversations were then used to construct a series of stories, each with their own Elder, voice and lesson. The Elders I worked with on this project, like all Knowledge Keepers, are absolutely invaluable. Their stories are not only vital to the continuation of Indigenous traditions as a whole, but stand as testament to the inherent wisdom in culture.