Freda Ahenakew facts for kids

Freda Ahenakew CM SOM (born February 11, 1932 – died April 8, 2011) was a Canadian author and academic. She was a proud member of the Cree nation. Freda Ahenakew was known for her important work in keeping Indigenous languages and stories alive in Canada. She was also the sister-in-law of political activist David Ahenakew.

Biography

Freda Ahenakew was born in Ahtahkakoop, Saskatchewan. She was the second of eight children born to Edward and Annie (Bird) Ahenakew. During her teenage years, she lived at St. Alban's Residential School in Prince Albert. She also went to Prince Albert Collegiate Institute.

Family and Education Journey

Freda Ahenakew married Harold Greyeyes from the Muskeg Lake Cree Nation. Together, they had 12 children. Harold worked with the Saskatchewan Indian Agricultural Program.

In 1968, Freda decided to go back to school to continue her education. She even attended high school alongside nine of her own children! In 1979, she earned her Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Saskatchewan. At the same time, she was also teaching the Cree language. Her marriage to Harold Greyeyes ended that same year.

Between 1976 and 1981, Freda worked as a teacher. She taught at the Saskatchewan Indian Cultural College and the Lac La Ronge Band. She also taught at the Saskatchewan Survival School in Saskatoon, which is now called Joe Duquette High School.

A Passion for Language

Freda Ahenakew continued her studies and earned a Master of Arts degree in Cree linguistics in 1984. She received this degree from the University of Manitoba. She worked closely with Professor H.C. Wolfart on her studies. Her Master's thesis, which was about the structure of the Cree language, was later published as a book called "Cree Language Structures."

From 1983 to 1985, she worked as an assistant professor. She taught in the Native Studies department at the University of Saskatchewan. After that, she became the director of the Saskatchewan Indian Languages Institute. She held this important role from 1985 until 1989.

Later, Freda became a professor in Native Studies at the University of Manitoba. She taught there until she retired in 1996.

Honoring Her Work

Freda Ahenakew received many special awards for her dedication and hard work. She was given an honorary degree from the University of Saskatchewan. This is a special award given to people who have made great contributions.

In 1998, she was made a Member of the Order of Canada. This is one of the highest honors a Canadian citizen can receive. In 2005, she was also awarded the Saskatchewan Order of Merit. This award recognizes people who have made outstanding contributions to the province of Saskatchewan.

In 2016, a branch of the Saskatoon Public Library was named after Freda Ahenakew. This was done to honor her lasting legacy and her contributions to education and language.