Kookum Konnections bring young and old together in Prince George

With heads bent low and busy hands at work creating Christmas ornaments, the grandmothers that make up the Kookums’ Konnection were hard at work at the Native Friendship Centre just before the holidays.

There were nine elders sitting together in the Gathering Place making the brightly decorated ornaments that would soon be gifted to those in need of a little Christmas cheer.

Kookums’ Konnection is a group of Indigenous and non-Indigenous elders that was started at the Prince George Native Friendship Centre about 20 years ago as part of the ongoing efforts to support and encourage the engagement of elders and youth within the community.

Kookum means Grandmother in Cree and even if the members in the group are not grandmothers themselves, they are honourary grandmothers to the children and youth that take part in the Native Friendship Centre’s extensive programs.

Bertha Cardinal is the cultural advisor at the Friendship Centre who facilitates the program.

“There are all walks of life and different teachings within our community,” Cardinal said about the 24 women that make up the group. “So we share that with the youth, the families, the children and groups at the Native Friendship Centre.”

There are other elders involved in different ways and Kookums’ Konnection is very special, Cardinal added.

The Kookums also volunteer at the food bank, the clothing bank and elsewhere.

“Then they volunteer with the early childhood program, the youth groups, any men’s or women’s group and they bring their teachings and knowledge with them,” Cardinal said. “We match each Kookum and their knowledge with the right group. So we’ll have some Kookums will play with the children in the early childhood group while others will teach people how to make Bannock. They will host story time or do beading or crafts like knitting or painting and they will create tie blankets with youth.”

Tie blankets are given in times of trouble, Cardinal explained.

“If someone is in the hospital or grieving or alone they are presented with the tie blanket that is blessed by a Kookum to help with their healing,” Cardinal said. “These elders are very special and so generous with their time. They go wherever they are needed and that’s what Kookums’ Konnection is all about.”