Nipisihkopâhk Awasisak Declaration

The development of the Nipisihkopâhk Awasisak Declaration and the subsequent planning for the children of the Samson Cree Nation (SCN) represent a strategic transition toward sovereign jurisdiction over early learning and child care (ELCC).  This initiative, funded by Samson Head Start (SHS) IELCC Partnerships & Governance, utilized a framework of Wahkohtowin (Cree Natural Law) and Indigegogy to move from foundational planning to community-wide implementation.

Jaime D. Buffalo, SCN ELCC Program Manager, is the primary architect of the strategic transition, a delegate at the regional and national advocacy tables for IELCC, and oversees program foundations in the Samson Cree Nation. 

Prior to the development of the Nipisihkopâhk Awasisak Declaration, Jaime had consulted former Chief Randy Ermineskin, who carries knowledge of the Treaty, Nehiyawewin language, Nehiyawewin principles, and Indigenous governance required to develop a declaration that promotes and protects the Awasisak of Samson Cree Nation. By integrating historical Indigenous governance and Natural Law into his teachings, Jaime Buffalo and Randy Ermineskin utilized the SCN Elders gathering to develop the logic and conceptual models for ELCC governance. 

Shannon Buffalo’s facilitation was key in organizing these Elders' gatherings, which were specifically designed to facilitate the collection of Nehiyaw knowledge necessary for future leadership succession planning.

These gatherings, including the November 2024 Elders Forum, March 2025 Elders Luncheon, and the June 2025 Connecting Generations engagement, were foundational to:

• "Connecting Generations" gathering in Jun 2025, which united 105 Elders and 60 youth to establish mentorship pathways within the Treaty Protectorate and Justice Department.

• Defining Purpose: Aligning youth and Elders on political mentorship within the context of the Treaty Protectorate and Justice Department.

• Cultural Documentation: Encouraging Elders to collectively document Samson’s Treaty Story and translate the Awasisak Declaration into Nehiyawewin (Cree language).

• Governance Integration: Providing the historical Indigenous governance insights and "Cree Thought" used by Randy Ermineskin to build the ELCC Logic/Conceptual models.

• International Chief and Lawyer, J. Wilton Littlechild, provided the international legal framework by presenting the SCN’s position and the Awasisak Declaration at the United Nations.