Ekti Margaret Cardinal

Elder: Okimaskwiw Ekti Margaret Cardinal, an indigenous Knowledge Keeper, was raised in a Northern Plains Cree family which maintained, practised and taught the values of traditional Cree culture.

Originally from Saddle Lake First Nations in north eastern Alberta, Ekti is:
- a well known Tipi and Tent Maker, who also
teaches her craft when requested.
- the “Resident Kokoom” at Young Indigenous
Women’s Circle of Leadership gatherings each year.
- the longest serving member of the Regional
Environmental Action Committee since 1990. In
1992, REAC was incorporated as a non-profit,
society with two hundred members all around the
Lesser Slave Lake region. A group of concerned
citizens who continue to be involved in projects to
help our environment.

Ekti and her partner David live on the shores of Lesser Slave Lake, in a solar- and wind-powered
house, off grid, which they started building in 1992 and continue to finish.