Long ago, there were beings of light and energy called Kisikookuk. These “star people” roamed the realities looking for “new experiences, new understandings and new perspectives.”
The Cree people believe that one of the Kisikookuk, named Atchakos Iskwew, or Star Woman, came down from the Hole in the Sky (Pakone Kisik) into our reality. From her, all people found their way here “to learn, experience, gain insight and perspective and teach—and then we move on.”
This, at least, is Elder Wilfred Buck’s interpretation.
Buck will speak at the fourth annual Jasper Dark Sky Festival later this month, and in anticipation, the science specialist at the Manitoba First Nations Education Resource Centre recently talked about dark skies, and their significance to First Nations culture.
According to Buck, the stars and night sky have long held a central role in the world view of many First Nations.
“The stars were important to every culture who looked up and saw wonder and awe,” he said. “All made connections with these nighttime objects and had teachings, legends and deep mythologies about them.”
First Nations people of different heritage naturally have different beliefs and stories linked to the night sky, but according to Carmen Houle-Hockett, an interpreter for Jasper National Park, there is something about First Nations culture and heritage that breeds a connection with nature.
“There’s an inherent, natural instinct within us that is part of the culture. And I think that’s what we’re bringing when we come to dark skies, we’re bringing that history that’s in us, that culture that’s in us where we connect to the land.”
She points to the Bearhead Sisters, the trio of sisters from Paul Band First Nations, who are scheduled to perform at the festival. The sisters often perform outside in the dark, where their voices seem to take on more strength.
While most performers seek out a spotlight, the Bearhead sisters are happy to perform in darkness. Houle-Hockett said that is a reflection of the humility that comes in part from a connection to the natural world. That humility is apparent in the words of Allie Bearhead, one of the sisters.
“I am so excited to sing to the stars. We always go outside at night to sing and record ourselves—it seems to sound better. In the winter when the snow is on the ground our voices echo in the night,” she said.
Buck pointed out that, historically, First Nations people looked into the night skies and there were virtually no impediments to gazing at the stars.
“There were always dark skies,” and it was common to be able to see star clouds and nebulae with the naked eye.
Those days are essentially past, but as a Dark Sky Preserve, Jasper can help provide at least a glimpse of what a true night sky used to look like.
“Aboriginal people made sense of the world by what’s up there in the sky,” explained Houle-Hockett. She said she hopes visitors will come and explore that sky with her and other First Nations presenters during the Dark Sky Festival, and hopefully even find clarity themselves.
Along with presentations by Buck and Houle-Hockett, and performances by the Bearhead Sisters, the mother-daughter Cree drumming duet Warrior Women will also perform during the festival.
For a full schedule of events, check the back of this week’s Fitzhugh.
Trevor Nichols
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