By Steve Hubrecht
The ?akisq’nuk First Nation has launched a new magazine to celebrate and share Ktunaxa language, culture, arts and knowledge with both Indigenous and non-Indigenous readers in the Columbia Valley and beyond.
The new magazine — ha?i·¢atik — comes out seasonally and is already on its second edition.
A group of about 20 ?akisq’nuk band members, band staff, and other valley residents gathered last week at the Invermere Public Library for an official launch party for the publication.
‘Ha?i·¢atik’ means ‘dreams’, ?akisq’nuk health and wellness director Rachel Bach explained to the party attendees. “It seemed like a really good opportunity to get our language out there.”
The first issue of ha?i·¢atik came out at the tail end of 2024, on December 21 —the winter solstice — with a print run of 100 copies. Demand was strong and the second issue came out a few weeks ago on Thursday, March 20, with a print run of 200 copies. The third issue will be out in June on the summer solstice.
“We’re excited to see if interest continues to grow, and to see how many we’ll print next time,” said Bach.
Anyone lucky enough to get their hands on a copy of either of the first two issues will find a wide range of great content — Ktunaxa language words; nature and outdoors-themed word searches, games and other activities; step-by-step craft guides; science features; colouring pages; Ktunaxa legends; a ‘bird or animal of the season’ centrefold; recipes; features on local edible plants; book reviews and reading challenges; community and career profiles of ?akisq’nuk members; a ‘meet the reader’ feature; and more.
The idea for the magazine came from both Bach and ?akisq’nuk healthy child development coordinator Ashely Killin while they were trying to think of ways to support ?akisq’nuk kids and families and to encourage cultural connection.
A magazine focussed on different pillars of ?akisq’nuk life, such as land, culture, language and nature “seemed like a fantastic resource” to that end, Bach told the Pioneer. “It’s a way to bring people in, and a way to share knowledge.”
Bach’s mom was part of the ‘Sixties Scoop’ and although Rachel was born ?akisq’nuk, she grew up outside the community, mostly in the Prairies. She recalled that as a youngster she “hungered for stories, for culture.”
A magazine such as ha?i·¢atik can help other ?akisq’nuk who are also growing up far from traditional Ktunaxa territory, explained Bach, noting that there are more than 500 members in the ?akisq’nuk First Nation, but only 100 of these live on First Nation land here in the Columbia Valley.
Feedback so far has been really positive, outlined Bach.
Ha?i·¢atik is meant to be “hands on, and interactive for kids and for families,” said Killin. She noted that 10 copies have already been sent as far away as Vancouver at the request of a school teacher there, who wanted to use them for educational purposes.
?akisq’nuk chief administrative officer David Bach explained that several year ago, ?akisq’nuk council decided to ramp up the First Nation’s administrative capacity, and the new magazine is one of the results stemming from that choice.
David said his favourite parts of the magazine so far are the arts features and the career profiles, which he hopes will inspire ?akisq’nuk teens and kids by showing them career options that exist within the First Nation.
The new magazine is “a great resource to have,” said Invermere Public Library director Blair McFarlane. “It helps ?akisq’nuk and Ktunaxa kids learn about language, culture and community and is also an accessible way for other communities to interact with and learn about ?akisq’nuk.”
Copies of ha?i·¢atik are available at the ?akisq’nuk Health Centre.
