Sharing our sacred stories ...

“nipakosēyimon ēkā ta-wanihtāhk kinēhiyawātisinaw, tāpitaw awiyak ta-masinahahk ēkwan ta-pīkiskwātahk.”
—Eleanor Brass, 1987

“I am hoping that our Indian culture will not be lost, that there will always be someone to write and speak about it. As the treaty reads, ‘As long as the grass grows and the water flows.’” —Eleanor Brass, 1987

These stories from the Peepeekisis Cree Nation tell of the Little People, Wesuketchuk, and the Sky People, and share the Plains Cree worldview, values, and spiritual beliefs.

Eleanor Brass (1905–1992, née Deiter) was born on the Peepeekisis Reserve on May 1, 1905, and her ancestors included two signers of Treaty 4: Chief Gabriel Cote and Chief Okanese. Eleanor worked her whole life to foster friendship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, and helped establish Native Friendship Centres to assist young Indigenous people making the transition from reserve to urban living. Her career encompassed various government jobs, and she wrote extensively for magazines and newspapers, including a column in the Leader-Post called “Breaking the Barriers.” In an effort to bridge cultural diversity with understanding, Eleanor also became a puppeteer, storyteller, and writer. After retirement, she wrote two books: Medicine Boy and Other Cree Tales (1978) and I Walk in Two Worlds (1987), her autobiography. Eleanor received an honorary degree in literature from the University of Toronto in 1991. She died on May 20, 1992.

Eleanor Brass' profile page

Aleigha Agecoutay resides on the Peepeekisis First Nation in Treaty 4 territory where she attended school. As a Plains Cree visual artist, all creations of kise manito provide her with endless inspiration. A big influence comes from her mosōm, Robert Bellegarde, an artist himself, Indigenous artist Alex Janvier, and Métis artist Christi Belcourt. Aleigha continues to express herself through her art work, painting in acrylics and watercolours, using pencil, and also beading and sewing. Aleigha sends a big nanaskomoh (thank you) to everyone who inspired and helped her to put these pieces of artwork together, especially her former high school teacher, Patricia Deiter; this would have not happened without you! Hiy hiy ekosi.

Aleigha Agecoutay's profile page