Story of Cree Place Names

Bruce Cutknife is a member of the Samson Cree First Nation in Maskwacis, Alberta. Bruce was born and raised on the Bear Hills Maskwachees community with Cree as his first language. He attended the Ermineskin Residential School up until grade 9 and then moved to Edmonton to attend High School.

In 1974 Bruce completed his High School in Ponoka Alberta.  After working a few years Bruce went back to school at the newly established Maskwachees Cultural College in 1976. Bruce started working in the Living History Program of the Maskwachees Cultural College for a number of years. His duties included Audio and Video recording of Elders talking about local history. This involved working with Elders to collect and archive the Cree language, work with the Cree Syllabics and use them in the collection and archiving of local history.

Bruce went back to school to complete his undergraduate studies. 

He received his BA in History/Native Studies from the Augustana Universty College in Camrose Alberta. After graduation Bruce worked local Radio and Television, taught Cree Language, Cree Studies and History courses at the Maskwachees Cultural College. Bruce was also the Director of Education for the Samson Cree nation and is now the Indigenous Education Coordinator for the Nipisihkopahk Education Authority.

Bruce has worked on numerous projects related to Cree Culture and Cree History. These include PowerPoint Presentations on the Cree Place Name Map, Condensed First Nation History Presentation and the History of the Residential School. Bruce’s hobbies and other areas of interest include photography, music, archery, travel, traditional music and dance.

Cost: Free

Registration Link: https://forms.gle/DxjduHzEoLKzaiYe6

This is part of the Maskwacis Cultural College Microlearning Series and is open to the public.
Contact Manisha Khetarpal by email  mkhetarpal@mccedu.ca or call toll free: 1 866 585 3925