​A Cree multimedia exhibition wins Gov Gen of Canada's History Award

#FirstNations; #SarahPash, #CreeCulture, #CreeMuseumofFootprintsexhibition, #Walkingoutceremony,  #Quebec, #Canada; #HistoryAward

Ottawa, Jan 26 (IBNS): A multimedia exhibition, 'Footprints: A Walk Through Generations', developed by the newest Cree community -- Aanischaaukamikw Cree Cultural Institute (ACCI) in Oujé-Bougoumou of Quebec, Canada -- won a 2018 Governor General of Canada's History Award for Excellence in Museums, media reports said.

This Award for Excellence would  be handed out on January 28, during a ceremony at Rideau Hall, Ottawa, the official residence of the Governor General of Canada, the national representative of the Canadian Monarch.

The ancestors of the current Cree population considered  themselves as a nation of hunters following the seasons and animal migrations after occupying the James Bay of Northern Quebec land for nearly 5,000 years.

According to the Cree tradition, children’s feet should not touch the ground outside of a tent until s able to stand or walk on their own.

During the ritual of  'Walking out ceremony' children, dressed in traditional clothing,  are officially welcomed into the community. 

"Walking out" ceremony of cree culture/twitter

The exhibition presents artifacts from a walking out ceremony marking a young Cree child's first encounter with nature, the whole of it included with archival photographs, audio and video elements.

Unveiled in 2017, the exhibition contains about 150 artifacts linked to the many facets of walking in Cree culture, and.has since travelled to each Cree community.

These History Awards, established in 1996, said a release by the Governor General's office, recognize teaching methodology of history including museums, community programming, scholarly research and media.

In total, 18 were given out for the 2018 History Awards.

Winning this award displayed Centre's priorities, said, Sarah Pash, chief executive officer of ACCI, such as indigenous quality research, language and culture preservation, and helped promote Cree culture beyond Canada.

 Sarah Pash/Facebook

ACCI is a non-profit organization, added Pash, and dependent upon government funding and private donors.

In May of 2019, the exhibition is expected to begin a cross-Canada tour  with a 10 month visit to the Canadian Museum of History, in Gatineau, Quebec.

(Reporting by Asha Bajaj)