Dr. Belinda (kakiyosēw) Daniels is from the community of pakitahwākan sākahikan – Sturgeon Lake First Nation, Saskatchewan. After completing her undergraduate studies in education, she began a journey in nēhiyawēwin (Cree) language recovery, inspired by having and raising her family. She is self-taught, and now teaches others how to teach and learn an Indigenous language as a second language learner, both as a faculty member with the University of Victoria and through a not-for-profit organization called nēhiyawak Language Experience, which she founded in 2004. Belinda is married and has four children and a new grandchild. kakiyosēw is grateful to be a visitor to the island of Victoria where she lives and works.

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I have not written down at great length what we did at the nēhiyawak Language Experience (nLE) summer immersion camp 2022 until now. It is mostly out of ‘busyness’ in the language revitalization work, and also the heaviness that comes with it too. As I think and write about these thoughts, I prepare miyākasikēwin (prayer and smudge) so that I can do this in the most humble of ways. This grassroots initiative has been my most gratifying work that gives me much joy and others too. The camp plays a major role in maintaining our land-identity and we are engaging in a long time, kiyās, practice, that is, living and being on the land and speaking Cree naturally.

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