Cree Iolo ac Indiaid America

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-I'm Iolo Williams and I'm nearing

-the end of my epic journey...

-..around Native American tribes.

-From the Navajo to the Cherokee...

-..from the wild west

-to the mountainous north...

-..I've fulfilled a dream

-by meeting unique tribes...

-..who are living

-in the traditional way.

-I've learnt

-about their culture, language...

-..spiritual beliefs

-and harmony with nature.

-From their tragic past, I explore

-the future for the Native Americans.

-Join me on the final leg

-of my journey...

-..across one of the world's

-most striking continents.

-I'm travelling

-to the far north of Canada...

-..an area only accessible

-by float plane.

-The landscape

-is a tapestry of lakes...

-..and the vast wilderness

-is covered in dense woodland.

-Welcome to Cree country.

-This is the story of a nation...

-..stepping over the threshold

-from the past into the modern world.

-I'm here to learn

-about their ancient hunting skills.

-Big pike.

-I'll meet families

-who still live off the land.

-You trapped a beaver?

-You trapped a beaver?

-

-Yes, I did.

-And I try to understand

-what effect the modern world...

-..has had on the tribe

-and its ancient traditions.

-My journey takes me through some

-of the world's great landscapes.

-This is the land of the Cree.

-The Cree are one of North America's

-most prominent tribes.

-With a population of over 200,000...

-..they live in pockets

-across the continent.

-I've come to meet one of the most

-remote nations, the Mistissini Cree.

-In north Quebec, far from

-the hubbub of modern life...

-..these people have enjoyed living

-as a small nation.

-Their territory has always

-been divided between families.

-Possessing vast areas, they have

-lived off the land for generations.

-But the modern world has cast

-a shadow over this simple life.

-Today, their lives are changing.

-The modern world has tasted

-the abundant natural resources...

-..within the territory

-of this ancient tribe.

-There's an insatiable appetite

-for more.

-It's hard to believe

-that the vast landscape is Canada...

-..one of the world's

-most developed countries.

-The area is seemingly

-untouched by man.

-There are no buildings or roads,

-nothing but a wild paradise.

-Forests are criss-crossed

-by lakes and rivers...

-..making it a wonderful habitat

-for bears, moose, wolves...

-..and all kinds

-of magnificent animals.

-But for the Cree, they are food.

-I'm here to spend a few days

-at the Awashish family camp.

-They have hunted this land

-for generations.

-I want to learn about their ancient

-and unique way of life.

-We're just flying over the camp now.

-It's on a small island

-in the middle of quite a large lake.

-A solitary camp with no-one else

-for hundreds of miles around.

-What a place!

-It looks fantastic.

-You must be George. What a place!

-Had a good flight?

-Had a good flight?

-

-Very good.

-Welcome.

-George Awashish

-is head of the family.

-I'll be spending the next few days

-in his company.

-I'd better introduce myself first.

-It's time to meet the family.

-My mother, Minnie.

-George lives in the cabin

-with his mother, Minnie...

-..his wife, Jeanette...

-Good to see you.

-..and his nephew, Victor.

-How are you, big man? Alright?

-It's a lot more luxurious

-than I expected a hunting camp to be.

-There are cabins

-equipped with gas and electricity.

-When I was small, the camp

-was just a collection of tepees.

-We travelled everywhere

-by canoe or on foot.

-Trying to keep up with the times

-is a big change to our way of life.

-The camp has been home

-to George's family for generations.

-He spends much of the year

-hunting here.

-He also offers hunting

-and fishing holidays for tourists.

-I expected somewhere more primitive,

-but the camp is modern.

-As I look around the camp...

-..it's strange to think

-we're so far from the modern world.

-We live in the town, but we spend

-months hunting here every year.

-The land is ours, from the highest

-mountain to the furthest valley.

-For five generations, this has

-been our part of Cree territory.

-The spiritual peace we feel from

-being part of this land is precious.

-I'm looking forward

-to welcoming you to our world.

-I can't think of many places

-I'd rather be on an autumn day.

-The leaves are changing colour.

-It's beautiful here.

-And if I stand here a moment,

-just listen to this.

-There are no aircraft

-or vehicle noises.

-There are no human sounds at all.

-Something this rare

-should be appreciated.

-It's a very special place.

-It's my first morning at camp

-and we're up early.

-George is in his camouflage

-and I'm in bright orange.

-We're going fishing.

-George will lower the net

-into the river...

-..to try to catch a big sturgeon.

-I've never seen one,

-so it'd be great if we caught one.

-He's not going hunting today

-because it's Sunday.

-But he's brought his gun

-just in case.

-If he spots something,

-he says that he'll shoot it.

-His belief is that the animal

-has offered itself as food.

-Off we go.

-The Cree are water people.

-The lakes and rivers

-are far too numerous to count.

-Soon, there'll be no need

-for a boat...

-..because the landscape

-will be covered in ice and snow...

-..for several months.

-The Cree have learnt to hunt

-and stockpile food for winter.

-We arrive at a spot where George

-has fished since he was a child.

-He obviously knows his land.

-He knows where to drop his net

-to catch specific fish.

-He's very familiar

-with his territory.

-He has been raised in this area...

-..and his family have been fishing

-and hunting here for generations.

-How do you know

-exactly where to lay the net?

-Dad showed me the way

-and he learnt from his father.

-These are big fish, George.

-The fish here grow to be huge.

-I caught one sturgeon

-that weighed well over 50 pounds!

-Sorry, but you won't be able

-to help much.

-Only the Cree have the right

-to fish here throughout the year.

-It's part of the James Bay Treaty.

-Though the Cree have lived

-in their homeland for centuries...

-..only in 1975 were they given

-the legal right to do so...

-..when the James Bay Treaty

-was signed.

-It's one of the most important

-agreements in Canadian history.

-The tribe retained its territory...

-..and the government had the right

-to develop hydroelectric power.

-This is one of the few areas

-in the world that is truly wild.

-It must be a privilege to live

-like George in a place like this...

-..so close to nature.

-There are thousands of lakes

-and rivers here.

-The water is crystal clear.

-You can see

-right to the bottom of the lake.

-The fish must be so healthy.

-They've probably never seen people.

-Being the only people for hundreds

-of miles is an odd feeling.

-It's a great feeling too.

-Where's the best place to fish?

-The rough water, where the river

-and lake meet, is the best place.

-This is an ideal spot for fishing.

-Where the river

-joins the lake...

-..and the water is full of fish.

-It's not like fishing

-in the River Vyrnwy as a child!

-Not quite.

-It's incredible to think

-that George's family...

-..owns this plot of land...

-..that's three times

-the size of Anglesey.

-Imagine that -

-three times the size of Anglesey.

-They hunt and fish this entire area.

-When you wake up in the morning...

-..do you look at all this and think,

-I'm a lucky man!

-I sometimes have to remind myself

-just how lucky I am...

-..to live

-in such a magnificent place.

-I know this territory

-like the back of my hand.

-It's central to my life.

-Suddenly he catches a fish,

-a bigger one than I've ever caught.

-This pike is too small to eat...

-..so it's going back in the water.

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-I'm in the wilderness, hundreds

-of miles from the nearest city.

-I'm staying with a hunter

-called George and his family.

-He's eager for me to learn essential

-fishing and tracking skills...

-..that were passed down

-from his father.

-He's the current generation

-of wisdom that dates back centuries.

-If an unlucky animal should cross

-our path, George will shoot it.

-But the prize for me is to see a man

-with a wealth of experience...

-..practising his craft.

-It's 6.00am and the sun

-hasn't risen above the horizon yet.

-I'm out with George

-and we're going hunting.

-He's looking for sandy beaches...

-..and animal tracks...

-..as well as scanning the trees

-with his binoculars.

-We're gliding along the shoreline

-for the moment.

-The place is so remote

-that large animals have few enemies.

-Bears, wolves and moose thrive here.

-It's also teeming with foxes, mink,

-weasels and all kinds of birds.

-What exactly are you looking for?

-I'm checking the sandy beaches,

-looking for moose or bear tracks.

-We'll take a closer look over there.

-We'll hide our smell

-by landing downwind.

-It's very, very quiet here.

-We're in shallow water,

-so we've come to a standstill.

-He's scanning the beach

-through his binoculars.

-There's a real feeling

-of expectation here.

-I know that if he spots something...

-..it will be all go.

-But it's quiet this morning.

-He noticed these moose tracks

-while we were out on the boat.

-He must have good eyesight

-to spot them with binoculars.

-It's obvious that he knew

-it was here somewhere.

-I notice from the tracks

-that the moose went that way.

-These two points

-show in which direction he went.

-There are wolf tracks here too,

-so it's likely the moose ran away.

-If it's still here,

-it'll be very cautious.

-Even though Victor

-is only eight years old...

-..he's used to going hunting

-with his uncle.

-I'm happy that Victor

-takes a keen interest in hunting.

-He learns something new every time.

-I don't need

-to teach him everything either.

-He'll learn a lot for himself.

-It's good to know that our methods

-will be passed on through him.

-George has come across

-these moose tracks.

-It wanted to cross the river.

-It checked the water over there

-and then came back around.

-The tracks go right into the water

-and then disappear.

-It crossed the river here.

-At first, I thought it was odd

-we were doing this from a boat...

-..and hunting the moose

-from a boat.

-But further inland,

-the trees are very dense.

-You won't see anything in there.

-The only hope you have

-of shooting a moose..

-..is from the water,

-where you can see from afar.

-But these are old tracks.

-They may be three or four days old.

-It's gone across the river

-and who knows where after that?

-They can wander up to 5km.

-It could be miles away by now.

-We've seen tracks,

-despite not seeing a moose.

-I've come to realize...

-..that the Cree

-have a real understanding of nature.

-We may only have seen animal tracks

-but I've seen enough to know...

-..that they're maintaining

-a rich heritage here.

-The younger generation are preserving

-the skills and wisdom...

-..inherited from their forefathers.

-It's more than just a case

-of resurrecting an old tradition.

-It's a way of life that hasn't

-changed much in centuries.

-Apart from the chainsaw!

-We now use modern equipment.

-Machines and chainsaws

-to make our lives easier.

-Saving time is common sense.

-I even have a GPS system.

-I have two.

-One in here and one in my pocket.

-But the one in my head

-will never run out of batteries!

-It seems that the Cree

-have been very successful...

-..in maintaining old traditions

-as well as moving with the times.

-Modern influences

-are definitely growing.

-But we'll never forget

-our way of life.

-It's important for me to continue

-the traditions and language.

-I have to teach Victor

-the skills I learnt from my father.

-He was a lasting influence

-on my life.

-Tonight, we're sitting down

-to a family supper.

-Moose is on the menu.

-My mother prepared the meal to thank

-the creator for the gift of food...

-..and for the strength

-to hunt during the past season.

-Thank you, Minnie...

-..and thank you all

-for the warm welcome.

-You've been very kind, showing me

-the way you live out here.

-You've been very hospitable...

-..and I appreciate

-all that you've done for me.

-Thank you very much.

-The food offering is for the creator

-and our family in the afterlife.

-Especially my father. We're still

-grieving, but it's getting easier.

-As head of the family, George

-makes an offering to the creator.

-They believe the smoke will carry

-the message to the spirit world.

-SHE PRAYS IN CREE

-I now realize the importance

-of the older generation...

-..to the family.

-Victor's father died last year

-and a powerful atmosphere engulfs us.

-Amen.

-Have a good meal.

-Thank you very much indeed.

-Another night with the family

-draws to an end.

-Under the brightest stars

-you'll ever see...

-..I realize I'm in unique company.

-We're going to check

-whether we've caught any fish.

-As with everything here,

-an early start is essential.

-He carries a gun with him everywhere

-just in case we spot something.

-I have high hopes

-as we approach the net.

-But my heart sinks as I notice

-a bird almost drowning in our net.

-It's one of the dangers

-of using nets.

-A diver is caught up in the net.

-Thank goodness we've spotted it.

-We're going to set it free.

-Fair play, he's letting it go.

-He could easily have killed it.

-He's taking his time

-to cut it loose.

-He's had to cut the net, so he'll

-have to repair it over the winter.

-The bird looks in good shape.

-I'm holding him here

-and I can feel that he's well fed.

-Are you ready?

-You can peck as much as you like.

-One, two, three.

-It was time to find out

-whether the net had done its job.

-George pulls in the net

-and within seconds...

-..I meet one of the most

-remarkable fish I've ever seen.

-I felt it moving.

-Namao.

-Namao.

-In my language, namao.

-Namao.

-I think namao means sturgeon.

-You won't see these fish in Wales.

-They're found in Eastern Europe

-and Russia.

-Sturgeon eggs are sold as caviar

-in Russia.

-The food of the well-to-do.

-I don't know

-whether there's caviar in this one.

-They're very odd creatures.

-They have

-a very primitive appearance.

-Geese are flying overhead.

-They're migrating to the south.

-I don't blame them

-because it's getting colder.

-Take a look at this.

-Big pike.

-We have plenty of food now.

-Years ago...

-..they had to make the most

-of the autumn.

-It was a time of plenty

-in terms of hunting and fishing...

-..to set them up for winter.

-Three big fish

-would have provided lots of food.

-In the old days, how would you

-preserve fish during winter?

-I'm a young man!

-I've always used a freezer!

-But seriously, traditionally,

-we would have smoked the fish.

-Well, there we go.

-A very successful fishing trip.

-Four big fish.

-And the first time

-I've seen a sturgeon.

-I'm very happy with that.

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-This is the land of the Cree.

-This unique tribe

-is indigenous to northern Canada.

-I've had a wonderful time

-out here in the wilderness.

-But in order to get

-a more rounded picture...

-..I'm visiting the town

-to see how the Cree live there...

-..and to explore their politics.

-I also want to find out whether

-this ideal existence is under threat.

-I'll return to camp

-in a few days' time...

-..but for now, I'm enjoying

-the majestic views of the landscape.

-Pilot Phil has flown the float plane

-for more than 20 years.

-He has a unique perspective

-of the territory from up here.

-I'm a kind of taxi driver, ferrying

-people to the hunting camps.

-I see big changes afoot

-from up here.

-Things like deforestation,

-mining and road building.

-He veers off his usual route

-to show me a mine.

-Although it's a source of employment

-and wealth...

-..it's a scar on this landscape.

-With so many developments,

-the Cree's biggest fear is pollution.

-They are currently considering...

-..whether or not to allow

-uranium mining on their land.

-Pollution from the project

-could be catastrophic for wildlife...

-..and the existing ecosystem.

-I'm unhappy about these changes.

-The roads will make it easier

-for people to get here.

-I can't see how we as people

-will benefit.

-Generations to come won't be able

-to enjoy this naturally wild land.

-Realizing this very real threat...

-..my journey to town has produced

-more questions than answers.

-This is Lake Mistassini,

-Quebec's largest freshwater lake.

-At over 100 miles long...

-..it's almost 500 times bigger

-than Bala Lake.

-The town of Mistissini

-is on its shore.

-The town was established

-as a trade centre 300 years ago...

-..where the Cree sold meat, fur

-and crafts to the white settlers.

-They travelled by canoe,

-sometimes for weeks on end.

-They then returned to their camps.

-It slowly grew into a small town...

-..and most of the 3,000 population

-now own a home in the town...

-..as well as a hunting camp

-in the wilderness.

-In an area this vast,

-this is the only way to travel.

-This certainly isn't what I expected

-Mistissini to look like.

-I expected to see

-rows of run-down shacks.

-But look at this -

-a brand-new housing estate.

-Some of these are very grand too.

-The building work is continuing.

-A new hospital, courthouse

-and leisure centre have been built.

-Everything is new.

-It's obvious

-that this community is thriving.

-I say well done to them.

-I've had a shock.

-As with every native tribe...

-..the biggest change

-facing the Cree...

-..has been the switch

-from self-sufficiency...

-..to a financial economy.

-The signing of the James Bay Treaty

-in 1975 made them millionaires.

-For almost 40 years...

-..new developments

-have contributed to the coffers.

-In Wales, a town like Mistissini...

-..would be considered a village

-rather than a town.

-But despite its size...

-..it is the Cree's

-administrative centre.

-The new law courts and senate

-are a clear indication...

-..that the Cree are striding forward

-proudly into the modern world.

-But now that their lives

-are changing...

-..could this be too much

-of a good thing?

-I've come to meet Ashley Iserhoff,

-the Cree's Deputy Grand Chief.

-Deputy Grand Chief? I'm Iolo.

-Nice to meet you.

-Nice to meet you.

-

-Thank you for making time for me.

-It's been a real eye-opener

-coming to the town.

-I expected something

-completely different.

-How much pressure are you under

-to share your territory's resources?

-We're under increasing pressure

-to share with the rest of Canada.

-By taking advice

-from the Cree elders...

-..we have succeeded in modernizing

-without losing our culture.

-Everybody speaks

-the mother tongue...

-..and continues

-with the traditional way of life.

-I grew up in a tepee

-and now I live in a modern house.

-Congratulations.

-I've visited six different tribes...

-..and the Cree is the one tribe...

-..that has managed to retain

-the traditional way of life...

-..and moved seamlessly

-into the modern world.

-The Cree are unique

-because we've made the crossover...

-..from the past to the future

-without losing our way.

-What's been made clear...

-..is that the people

-don't make any decisions...

-..if they believe a development

-will have a negative effect.

-Not only on the people,

-their culture and language...

-..but on the land,

-water and wildlife too.

-It strikes me

-that they've got things right here.

-It's a shame that we don't have

-politicians like him back in Wales.

-Hello.

-Don't worry, we're doing

-a documentary on the town.

-You trapped a beaver?

-You trapped a beaver?

-

-Yes, I did.

-Is it alright

-if I have a look at it?

-Thank you. Oh, wow!

-Is this an adult beaver?

-Mid-size.

-Mid-size.

-

-It's not a big, big one. Oh, wow.

-Thank you very much.

-Have a good day.

-Have a good day.

-

-Thank you. And you, too.

-The man back there...

-..was carrying something,

-so I went to see what it was.

-It was a beaver

-that he'd caught about 100km away.

-I asked him whether he hunted it

-for its fur.

-He said that there's no money

-in the fur.

-He wanted the meat.

-They love beaver meat.

-They eat every bit of it,

-including the tail.

-The tail is flat

-and resembles a spoon.

-I don't know how they eat it,

-but it's obviously important meat.

-It's not every day that you see

-a moose in the back of a pick-up.

-This family shot the moose

-after seeing it on the roadside.

-After speaking to a politician,

-I wanted to hear from the people.

-Do you think the sudden change

-in lifestyle is a good thing?

-We shouldn't sell our land

-to developers.

-Our land is our heritage and it's

-our responsibility to preserve it.

-I worked in the mine but returned

-to hunting to earn my living.

-My friends work in the mines,

-but they would prefer to hunt.

-Have you seen a lot of change

-in this area...

-..since the gold mine

-and so on opened?

-Yes.

-I blame global warming

-for the pollution.

-The moose's coat is thinner

-because our winters are shorter.

-It's hard to believe

-in a place as remote as this...

-..that the environment and wildlife

-are affected by man.

-The Cree's situation is a dichotomy.

-Though the developments

-have brought wealth...

-..living in an economy

-where money rules...

-..is anathema to the tribe's beliefs

-in self-sufficiency.

-Before leaving the town,

-I arrange to meet Kevin Neeposh.

-He's responsible for establishing

-a new national park...

-..that's half the size of Wales.

-On my way, I see evidence

-of all the new developments.

-We meet in a place

-that was once a forest.

-It's an example

-of what Kevin wants to preserve.

-You can see that our land

-is under constant economic threat.

-Though everybody

-wants to modernize...

-..our culture

-should take precedence over money.

-We're planning to turn our families'

-hunting land into a national park.

-Though the Cree

-will live and hunt there...

-..no money will be made

-from the land.

-He goes on to tell me about the

-support the project has received.

-But how do the people decide

-on such matters?

-When land is so precious, saying

-and doing are two different things.

-Every decision

-is discussed publicly.

-If there's opposition, we turn

-to the tribal elders for guidance.

-That's the traditional way

-of making decisions in our culture.

-Picture the transformation

-that has occurred here.

-In one generation,

-the place has gone...

-..from a collection of tepees

-to a brand-new modern town.

-It has only taken 30 years

-for them to undergo such changes.

-Something that took us centuries.

-They have to do this and try

-to avoid making any mistakes.

-It's quite a feat.

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-888

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-I'm living among the Cree...

-..the unique Native American tribe

-of northern Canada.

-Having spent a few days

-in the town...

-..I return to the Awashish family's

-hunting camp.

-Despite its remote location...

-..it has modern cabins...

-..with gas and electricity.

-Hello again, George.

-Good to see you again.

-It's good to be back.

-One person who has witnessed

-big changes in her lifetime...

-..is Minnie, the family's matriarch.

-George's mother, Minnie...

-..makes crafts for a living.

-She doesn't speak a word

-of English, only Cree.

-What you're making is lovely.

-What are they made out of?

-I've been making moccasins from

-moose hide for a very long time.

-What was the role of the woman

-when you were a child?

-When I was small,

-we lived in tepees.

-We were a close family who hunted

-and gathered medicinal herbs.

-For some reason, we all seemed

-much happier back then.

-Although the modern world

-is appealing...

-..it has its drawbacks, she says.

-The younger generation

-are exposed to an unhealthy diet...

-..and a sedentary lifestyle.

-The children aren't obedient,

-as we were.

-The Cree have always been proud

-to learn from their parents.

-But I see less of that nowadays.

-She goes on to explain more

-about the changes...

-..that she has seen in her lifetime.

-They were introduced

-to Christianity.

-She shows me her hymn book

-in the Cree language.

-Her words are closer

-to the teachings of the Bible...

-..than to the modern ways.

-Money isn't important.

-I can't eat money.

-I doubt there's room in our world

-for economic developments.

-All these developments

-are harmful to nature.

-I've never seen river levels so low.

-Beavers were everywhere once,

-but now they're scarce.

-The sun is starting to set...

-..and it's time to go hunting.

-We're hunting for beavers,

-an animal I've never hunted before.

-Beavers are likeable creatures.

-They disappeared from Britain

-in the 15th century.

-This is a perfect habitat for them,

-and despite falling numbers...

-..beavers are still on the menu.

-George is keen for Victor

-to shoot his first beaver.

-We won't be needing the boat

-any more.

-Because the river level is low...

-..the beavers have moved

-to the smaller lakes nearby.

-We have to walk half a mile

-to reach the lake.

-We've waited until now because

-they come out late in the day.

-We've waited for the sun to set.

-We'll go and wait

-for the beavers to appear.

-Bring the fishing rod.

-If we shoot one in the lake,

-we can fish it out of the water.

-That's a new one on me -

-fishing for beaver!

-If they shoot it on the water,

-we'll need the rod to reel it in.

-The beavers have built a lodge

-over on the other side.

-These two are going

-to settle down here and wait.

-As dusk falls,

-the beavers will come out.

-They're in a good position here

-to shoot them.

-It's important

-that we're positioned downwind...

-..so that the wind carries our smell

-away from the animals.

-Do beavers have good eyesight?

-Their sight isn't great, but their

-hearing and smell is very acute.

-Hunting beavers is an odd feeling.

-Back home, it'd be like someone

-hunting the red squirrel.

-We think of beavers as rare animals.

-While they're not common here...

-..these people have depended

-on beaver, bear and moose meat...

-..since before Christ's time,

-so this is totally natural for them.

-I like hunting for beavers

-more than any other animal...

-..because of the strategy involved.

-They're clever,

-so we have to be cunning.

-There's a ripple in the water

-over there.

-Despite the excitement,

-there's no sign of beavers.

-I wonder

-who's the most cunning today?

-Both hunters and naturalists

-have to learn to be patient.

-You have to be very patient

-and be prepared to wait.

-That's a skill in itself.

-Waiting for an hour or two,

-sometimes more.

-Sometimes a whole day.

-Waiting a long time

-is an important part of hunting.

-As the minutes turn into hours,

-I remember the grandmother's words.

-The beavers

-are either keeping clear...

-..or, more worryingly, dying out.

-The light is beginning to fade now

-and the sun is setting.

-When it disappears over the horizon,

-we'll have to head back home.

-We haven't seen anything

-and we haven't shot anything.

-But it doesn't matter to me.

-Being out in this unique landscape

-with these people is a pleasure.

-I've learnt so much from them.

-It's time to head home.

-It's not often that a man can say

-he's fulfilled a dream.

-I've had the privilege of spending

-time with the American Indians...

-..who captivated me

-while watching westerns as a child.

-It's been an epic journey

-across a remarkable continent.

-I've met colourful characters...

-..and had experiences

-that I could never have imagined.

-I learned about spirituality

-from the Navajo...

-..and warrior spirit

-from the Cherokee.

-I hunted with the Mi'kmaq

-and saw the unique relationship...

-..that the Lakota and the Blackfoot

-have with nature.

-The white man

-brought destruction to the tribes...

-..but they continue to fight

-for their language and culture.

-They're still there.

-Through it all, I have learnt

-to appreciate what we have.

-As a nation, we should be proud

-of our language and our culture.

-Our traditions continue.

-I'm pleased to say that amid

-the buzz of the modern world...

-..the Native American traditions...

-..are still as relevant today

-as they've always been.

-I've travelled

-across the USA and Canada...

-..and on this final trip,

-I have come across a tribe...

-..whose story is one of success.

-The Cree have remained faithful

-to their forefathers...

-..while still moving forward

-into the modern world.

-They still venture out to hunt

-in this beautiful wilderness...

-..but return to their modern town

-and luxurious homes.

-It's a very successful tribe

-and a very prosperous tribe.

-I think they'll do very well

-in the modern world...

-..and that's something to celebrate.

-S4C Subtitles by Eirlys A Jones