You may of heard of XiamoNYC who is this famous YouTuber who learns languages and surprises people on his YouTube Channel. Ari has millions of followers and thought it would be a great opportunity to come promote the Cree Language.
So let’s first figure out how we made this happen?
Our company Powwow Times was working really hard on our 52 Weeks of Cree program that delivers free Cree lessons every week for 52 weeks to help you become fluent in Cree. We needed a way to put more eyeballs on our program, so we reached out to Ari’s YouTube channel and asked if he would be interested in learning and promoting our language.
To our surprise, Ari said he would and the work started to happen.
We thought it would a great idea to partner with Ari because of what he did with the Navajo and Ojibwe language. Here is the Navajo Video below:
The video got already close to 7 million views. It brought a lot of good attention on the Navajo language and the Navajo people. Ari shocked a lot of people by speaking Navajo and he told me personally that it was by far the hardest language to learn.
He did that video and the next Indigenous language video he did was the Ojibwe language.
Here is that amazing video here:
Each of these videos has a combined viewership of over 9MM views and bringing much needed attention to learning and promoting Indigenous languages.
Contents
Planning For XiaomaNYC to Come to Treaty 6 Territory
Before having Ari come to our territory and create the content he needed, he first had to learn the Cree language.
To set him up, I had him train Cree with my fluent speaking brother, Vernon. Each week they made a connection via Facetime video and just had conversations using the Cree language.
Ari’s approach to learning language was more about just spending time speaking the language then trying to figure out how to read and write.
He said the problem with most langauge classes is they spend too much time on reading and writing then actually speaking the language. He said if people just spend even 1 hour per day speaking what they know, even if it’s just a little, then eventually you will come to a point where you are fully speaking the language.
So Ari spent his time with Vernon just speaking the Cree language and he said it was top 2 the hardest language’s he had to learn.
The Ultimate Cree Adventure
I had so many plans for Ari’s arrival and wanted to treat him to an amazing experience in our homelands.
His flight ended up getting delayed multiple times and he ended up arriving 2am in the morning, so for day one it was all about rest and clearing out the jet lag.
In the morning we started out early. I picked him up at his hotel room and we made our way to Maswacis where we got to sit and have breakfast with Steve Wood from the famous Powwow drum group – Northern Cree.
From there we went to a few stores and tried to surprise people speaking Cree to them. The problem was most of the store employees didn’t know how to speak Cree and didn’t understand the Cree language.
We eventually found a lady at a chinese food spot and had a great conversation in Cree.
From there we drove to Lloydminster to our Museum Exhibit where we met up with my mom and spoke Cree to him.
Surprising Locals at Onion Lake Cree Nation
Our journey took us to the vibrant community of Onion Lake Cree Nation, where the spirit of the Cree language was about to come alive in the most unexpected places.
We wandered into local stores, Ari’s anticipation growing with each visit, hoping to find someone to share in the joy of his new linguistic skills. It was at our fourth stop, amidst the hum of daily life, where we encountered a man on a quad.
The look of surprise and then delight on his face as Ari greeted him in Cree was a moment of pure connection, transcending barriers and bringing smiles all around.
A Culinary End to a Day of Surprises
As the sun dipped below the horizon, we found ourselves at a local Chinese Buffet, a place of warmth and the aroma of delicious food inviting us in. It was a moment to reflect on the day’s journey, sharing stories and laughter over plates of vibrant dishes.
This supper was more than just a meal; it was a celebration of the day’s successes, a way to unwind and revel in the unexpected friendships and exchanges that had unfolded.
The buffet, with its array of choices, mirrored the diversity and richness of experiences we’d encountered throughout the day.
An Unforgettable Dog Sledding Adventure
The crisp morning air greeted us as we set out for Charlie’s Dog Sledding Adventures, a highlight eagerly anticipated by Ari. Despite his initial apprehension towards dogs, Ari’s adventurous spirit shone through as he bravely stepped onto the sled.
The excitement was palpable as the dogs eagerly surged forward, pulling us into the breathtaking winter landscape. The rush of gliding over the snow, the serene beauty of the surrounding nature, and Ari’s laughter melding with the joyful barks created a tapestry of unforgettable memories.
A Traditional Lunch with Elders
The warmth of the Elders’ welcome at Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nations was a comforting embrace on our journey.
As we gathered around the table, the aroma of rabbit soup, moose meat, and freshly baked bannock filled the air, a testament to the culinary heritage of the Cree people. Ari, with a heart full of gratitude, engaged in conversation with the Elders in Cree, his words a bridge between cultures.
The exchange of gifts—tobacco, blankets, and sweetgrass—was a powerful moment of respect and acknowledgment, weaving Ari deeper into the fabric of the community.
A Spiritual Journey Through the Sweat Lodge
The experience of the sweat lodge was a journey of the soul, a profound immersion into tradition and spirituality.
The intense heat and the close quarters tested Ari’s limits, challenging him to find strength within himself. Each of the four rounds offered a deeper dive into self-reflection and purification, the heat enveloping us like a cocoon.
Emerging from the sweat lodge, Ari was visibly transformed, touched by the ancient practice and the spiritual awakening it had ignited within him.
A Linguistic Twist and a Fond Farewell
Our final stop before the journey back to Edmonton was at a local Chinese restaurant, where Ari seamlessly switched from Cree to fluent Chinese. The surprised and delighted reaction of the restaurant owner was a testament to Ari’s linguistic prowess.
As he ordered egg rolls, it was a light-hearted moment that reminded us of the power of language to connect across cultures.
This brief, yet rich, encounter was a fitting end to our journey—a journey that had spanned languages and cultures, leaving us with memories to cherish and stories to tell.
Reflecting on an Amazing Experience
The days we spent with Ari were short but filled with incredible experiences that transcended mere promotion of our 52 Weeks of Cree program. It was a celebration of cultural exchange, a testament to the resilience and beauty of the Cree language, and an unforgettable adventure that touched the hearts of everyone involved.
As we said our goodbyes, we knew that Ari’s visit had sown seeds of understanding and respect that would continue to grow, long after his flight had taken him to his next destination.
If you would like to learn the Cree language, please visit our 52 weeks of Cree program here.
