A Cree Approach

Please note that Indigenous attendees are prioritized for this special screening. There are a limited number of general admission tickets available.

A Cree Approach follows Tristin Greyeyes on a deeply personal journey to understand why Cree was not her first language, unraveling the story of her late grandmother, Freda Ahenakew. Freda, a single mother of 12 and high school dropout, witnessed a generational divide in her family — half of her children learned Cree as their first language, while the rest grew up without it. Despite these challenges, Freda became a renowned Indigenous scholar, linguist, and advocate for the Cree language, notably creating the Cree Standard Roman Orthography, a writing system that revitalized language learning for future generations.

Through interviews, archival footage, and personal reflection, Tristin delves into Freda’s legacy, uncovering the complex history behind her work and its profound impact on Indigenous language revitalization. Along the way, Tristin is inspired to learn Cree herself, as she recognizes the vital importance of preserving her cultural heritage. This intimate documentary is not only a tribute to Freda’s enduring influence but also a call to action for the reclamation of language and identity in Indigenous communities.

Preceded by Our Grandmother The Inlet (dirs Jamie Leigh Gianopoulos, Kayah George): A short poetic documentary featuring Kayah George and her grandmother Ta7a, illustrating the hardship of industry dominance on the mental health of Indigenous youth and the spirit of gentle reclamation of love and connection to culture, water, and land as kin and relatives.

Q&A with filmmakers

The woman at the centre of the story is resolute and brave. She built her life on a commitment to family, community and Indigenous culture. A Cree Approach is a fitting tribute to her extraordinary life’s work.

Dorothy Woodend, The Tyee