School kookum program adds extra layer of support, love for Thompson, Man., children

A ringing chorus of "Hi Kookum" greets Valerie Parker every day in her classroom at a Thompson, Man., elementary school, followed by hugs from the students who come by for a visit at recess.

"I have a lot of grandchildren here," she said with a laugh on Friday.

Parker is a kookum, a Cree word for grandmother, at Juniper Elementary School. She is neither a teacher nor a counsellor, but does a little bit of both of those jobs.

All of her teachings are rooted in her Cree heritage and culture, from the tea she brews of cedar, weegas (also called rat root) and chaga, to the bannock she fries, to the crafts she makes with the kids who come by.

"They come here and they cook, baking. I teach them sewing, medicines, crafts, the teachings, the seven teachings," Parker said.

One girl, 14, who is in foster care and can't be named, comes by nearly every day to visit her kookum. She wanted to make a fancy shawl and regalia to dance in.

Over the course of a school year they sewed her regalia, including moccasins, Parker said.

"She's basically like my own mom to me. It's more comfortable and it's more safe here than my boring class," the 14-year-old said.

Parker sees herself as a safe person for the children to come and talk to.

"They need someone to come and comfort them, and they never want to go to anyone else, but they come to me and get that comforting," she said.

Parker is one of two self-titled kookums in northern Manitoba's Mystery Lake School Division who are a part of the Mino Pimatisiwin program, which means the good life, co-superintendent Lorie Henderson said.

"We're looking for balance for our kids to have the good life," she said.

Roughly 60 per cent of children in the division are Indigenous, Henderson said, so the program is a way to help them not only connect with their culture but also receive support if they need a little extra.

"They're not necessarily needing a diagnosis. They're just needing somewhere where they can have space, they can have support, they can learn about some of some of our culture," Henderson said.

Shelley Cook is Parker's counterpart at Burntwood Elementary School on the other side of Thompson.

Cook, who is not Indigenous but has been adopted into her husband's community, Misipawistik Cree Nation, offers comfort and support to the children who come into her classroom.

A trained teacher, Cook uses a lot of the same skills she learned in a classroom in her role as kookum, but says her current role is unique.

"If somebody needs a smudge, they could come see me — we can kind of give them a new start on their day — or if they've got something that's heavy on their heart, I have the time to listen," she said.

"I know that residential school was a very unkind place to be and that some of our parents had to experience that, and so one of my major pieces is trying to be kind to the children and making them understand how valuable and special they are."

The kids who interact with Cook learn to sing in Cree and play with puppets and stuffed animals, all while learning about the traditional seven teachings.

Eight-year-old Emersyn Wickdahl said when she visits her kookum, it means it's going to be a good day, because she loves visiting.

"I just think it's really fun to be here," said Emma Lefevere, 9.

The division is trying to recruit other grandparent figures to work in other schools in the area, Henderson said.

Cook hopes all divisions will consider their program.

"I'm pretty sure that if all the schools could have the benefit of having a grandma around, I think it would enhance their school," she said.