My Family Tree ototimîhîtowin (Kinship)
Discover Your Ancestral Roots!
My Family Tree – ototimîhîtowin (kinship) is a fun and easy-to-use website that helps students, teachers, and families learn about their family history. This tool has been made especially for Pukatawagan Cree Nation students and citizens to share and use.
What Is This Website Family Tree Tool Used For?
This website helps citizens, schools and students to:
- Learn about parents, grandparents, and ancestors
- Explore old family records and census lists
- Build their own family tree
- Feel proud of who you are and where you come from
It also encourages talking with parents, grandparents, Elders, and other family members to learn stories that are not written down.
Your Mission:
Find out more about your family and trace your family tree into the past.
Did You Know?
This Pukatawagan website has old records that go back almost 200 years. Are you able to trace you family roots back seven generations!
Let’s Get Started!
HOW TO USE THIS FAMILY TREE WEBSITE?
Are you ready to be a Family Tree Detective? Take the Family Tree Challenge and get ready to solve a mystery – the mystery of YOU and your roots to your past ancestors!
STEP 1: Start Your Family Tree
If you have not done so already. Write down the first, last and middle names of:
- Your parents
- Your grandparents
- Your great-grandparents (if you know them!)
Ask family members to help you.
STEP 2: Use Your Tools
Search the family records and old census lists in this database by entering some of the names connected to your family and see if you can connect to others that you may not have even known.
It’s that simple!
STEP 3: Look for Clues
Search for family names and connections. Read about each person connected to each name.
Each new name helps your family tree grow bigger and stronger!
Write the notes in your Family Tree!
STEP 4: Request to Have Your Family Tree Recorded
Add your family tree to the records here. Simply enter the information into this page, fill out as much as you can and as accurate as possible. Make sure the spelling of names is correct and that the relationships are correct. Once entered, your Family Tree will be checked and possibly even added.
Good luck, Family Tree Detective! Your story is important and it’s waiting to be discovered. Check back later to see if you and your family connections have been added to the continually growing Pukatawagan ancestry.
Why Family Trees Matter?
Learning about your family helps you:
- It helps you understand your roots and where your family’s story began.
- It gives you a stronger sense of who you are and where you belong.
- It helps keep important family stories, traditions, and teachings alive.
- It connects you with relatives, Elders, and community members.
- It protects and honours First Nations culture, especially because many families were separated or had parts of their history lost.
- It builds pride and confidence by reconnecting with your ancestors.
- It helps you pass down stories and teachings to younger generations so they know their history too.
- It connects you to your language, heritage, culture and land.
More Fun and Interactive Learning!
Want more? Contact us or ask the schools about the other great Family Tree stories and activities for you and your family to enjoy:
- Storybook: Mahîkan Meets The Family Tree
- Student/Participant Activity Worksheets:
- Discovering My Family Tree/ Creating My Family Tree
- My Family Tree
- Reconnecting With My Ancestral Name
Look for other learning guides, stories and activities in the Forever Footprints History Series, including:
- Pukatawagan Rock Paintings
- History Of Pukatawagan Chiefs And Leadership
- A Timeline Of Pukatawagan’s Community Development
- Pukatawagan & Colonialism
- Photographic Journey Through Pukatawagan History
… And More!
Acknowledgements
We extend our sincere gratitude to the individuals and organizations who generously shared their time, knowledge, and resources to help preserve the history, stories, and heritage of Pukatawagan. Their dedication supports the revitalization of our language, culture, and traditions, ensuring they continue to be learned, shared, and celebrated by future generations.
We respectfully acknowledge the following contributors, and the many leaders, educators, and community members whose contributions may not be listed, but are deeply valued and appreciated:
Pukatawagan Education Authority Inc.
Valerie Whyte
Doris Castel
Charisma Castel
Lorna Bighetty
Pascal Bighetty Sr.
Marie Adele Sinclair-Bighetty
Elder Solomon Colomb
Elder Dominique Hart
Elder Hyacinth Colomb
Ancestor Atimweyan
Michel Dumas
Edna Nabess
Kevin Whyte
Agnes Columb
Florajane Castel
Pat Turrenne
We also offer our deepest gratitude to our Elders, Knowledge Keepers, Grandfathers, and Grandmothers. Through storytelling, ceremony, and teachings, they preserve and pass down the Nîhitho (Cree) way of life, keeping the spirit of our ancestors alive and guiding our community, schools, staff, and youth. Their wisdom is a gift beyond measure, and we are honoured to recognize their vital role in keeping our culture strong and vibrant.
ᐄᑯᓭ, ᑫᓇᓇᐢᑯᒣᑌᓇᐣ
ekosi, kinanaskomitinan
