Indigenous Support Worker

The Cree (Nehiyaw) worldview is not a polarized view but a holistic view.  It is not this or that but this and that.  It holds that all life forms are interconnected and that life is sacred.  Human beings are not at the top of a ladder but are one part of a sacred circle.  Emotional, physical, mental and spiritual realms are not separate but recognized as part of the whole.  Traditionally, responsibility within the Nehiyaw culture primarily involved contributing to the well-being and success of the group - the family, extended family and community.  Leadership was developed through service to the community, and cooperation and helping others were crucial to survival.  Traditional Nehiyaw culture revolves around the connection to Mother Earth and the relationship with family and community.  The concept of Mother Earth in Nehiyaw worldview not only encompasses the land but also all animals, minerals, rocks, water, plant life and all interconnectedness with humans.  Cree people do not use the products and minerals of Mother Earth as commodities but regard them as relatives and treat them with the utmost respect.  (Alberta Education Alberta Canada)