Presenters
Saturday, November 2nd, 1-5pm in Craigie Hall, University of Calgary
Heather Bliss
Oki, nitáániko Otskaapinaaki. Hello, my name is Heather Bliss. My Blackfoot name was given to me by my late friend and teacher Tootsinam Beatrice Bullshields. I am a non-Indigenous linguist living and working in the traditional and unceded territories of the hənq̓ə̓minə̓m̓-speaking peoples. I was born and raised in Mohkinsstsis (Calgary, Alberta) and I am the granddaughter of Scottish and British immigrants. I am an alumnus of the University of Calgary (BA Honours, 2003; MA 2005) and the University of British Columbia (PhD, 2013), and a former postdoctoral fellow at the University of Victoria (SSHRC 2014-16; Banting 2016-18). I am a Lecturer at Simon Fraser University, an Adjunct Professor at the University of British Columbia and an Adjunct Assistant Professor the University of Calgary.
Charm Breaker
Born and raised in Calgary, Alberta, Charm Breaker is a Blackfoot and Cree woman, currently attending the University of Calgary, as a 3rd year Communications and English student. With no technical knowledge of the Blackfoot language, her work with the Blackfoot Stories Archive has given her a chance to contribute, in a creative way, to the advancement of her language. With a passion for travelling and poetry, language is rudimentary in having an experience to be remembered.
Noreen Breaker
Ikinómo’tstaan (Noreen Breaker) from the Siksiká Nation is a Sundance Helper, a Beaver Bundle Member, and a Member of the Prairie Chicken Society. She is a fluent first language speaker of Blackfoot, who has taught Blackfoot language courses for the University of Calgary and has collaborated with linguists on language documentation projects for over fifteen years. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Canadian Studies from the University of Calgary. Her knowledge of Blackfoot is helping to make projects like the Algonquian Linguistic Atlas and the Blackfoot Stories Archive possible.
Amy Burns
Associate Dean, Werklund School of Education
Janelle Crane-Starlight
Director, Tsúūt'ínà Gūnáhà Institute
Ngatai Crowchild
Language/Education Coordinator, Tsúūt'ínà Gūnáhà
Patricia Danyluk
Senior Instructor, Werklund School of Education
Cherith Mark
Âba wathetch! Cherith Mark emâgiyabich. Îyethka hemâchach. Mînî Thnî emâdahâch. Good day. My name is Cherith Mark. I am Stoney Nakoda from Morley AB. I graduated from Simon Fraser University with a B.F.A. in 2007. I work at Stoney Education Authority as the Language & Culture Coordinator. Speaking the Stoney Nakoda language is very important to me as it connects me to my identity being Stoney Nakoda.
Gerald Meguinis
Tsuut'ina Nation
Yvonne Poitras-Pratt
Associate Professor, Werklund School of Education
Skyblue Morin
Michif Language Keeper