Many of the crew behind the live-action and animated series ‘Kokum & Dot’ come from the Indigenous Film program at the university’s North Vancouver campus
A new kids show is set to hit TV screens next week teaching Cree language and culture.
Kokum & Dot, produced and directed by filmmaker April Johnson and filmed at Capilano University in North Vancouver, follows Kokum Dorothy talking to her hand-puppet friend Dot about her day, introducing vocabulary and guiding principles in Cree culture.
“We're excited,†Johnson said. “These languages and honouring the wisdom of our elders is really important.â€
The eight episode series intertwines live-action and animation, starring Cree/Anishinaabe actor and musician Renae Morriseau as Kokum (meaning grandmother in Cree) Dorothy and ventriloquist and puppeteer Kellie Haines as Dot.
Johnson took inspiration for the show from Dorothy Visser, an elder with the Cree Nation of Saddle Lake, Alta., after taking a Cree language class from Visser at the Native Education College in Vancouver during the peak of the pandemic.
Like many classes then, they were conducted over Zoom. Johnson, who is Métis and Nehiyaw (Muskoday First Nation, located in Saskatchewan), took the class to learn the language after struggling to learn it on her own. Johnson said she tried to write a book in Cree for a seminar course while completing Indigenous studies at the University of Victoria, but faced challenges
“I cried the whole way through,†she said. “I was like, ‘This is too hard for me, maybe I'll never learn my language.'â€
But like any good teacher, Visser changed that for Johnson and made learning fun using songs and puppets.
“It was such a good way to remember,†Johnson said. “So I was like ‘OK, she's onto something here.'â€
A few years later, Johnson was able to take that inspiration to the screen.
The series was filmed at the BOSA Centre for Film and Animation at Capilano University. Many of the crew members behind Kokum & Dot are Indigenous and came from the Indigenous Film and FILMBA programs at CapU, including Johnson herself. Having that representation was important.
“It's bringing up a whole new generation of Indigenous creators,†she said. “The one thing that makes this show special is how many emerging [and] Indigenous creators are getting their first opportunity to step into the industry through this show, and the mentorship is really important to us.â€
Morriseau, who is also an instructor in the university's Indigenous film program, was thrilled to play a large part in the show, sharing the language and composing music for the project.
“It's always a good way to learn languages through song,†Morriseau said. “With any language that you're wanting to learn, being immersed in it is a lot easier than not being in that. Kokum & Dot allows children to be curious … and have a joyous relationship to the Cree language.â€
Johnson said she gave the show a 1990s nostalgic feel, channelling favourites such as Sesame Street and Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood to give it a relaxing tone and allow viewers to really sit with the teachings. Those teachings are love, respect, courage, honesty, wisdom, humility and truth, which are universal, Johnson said.
Kokum & Dot will hit TV screens on TELUS channels in B.C. and Alberta and on their On Demand app on June 15. The kids show launches just in time for National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21 and during National Indigenous History Month.
“I think the whole month is great for reflection on the territories that we live on, the history of the land and the experiences of Indigenous people across Turtle Island,†said Johnson.
Abby Luciano is the Indigenous and civic affairs reporter for the North Shore News. This reporting beat is made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative.
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