Introduction / History

The Plains Cree are one of the larger First Nations people groups in North America. They live throughout the prairies of Western Canada in the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan with a few in the U.S. in Montana. Some also live in the boreal forests of Alberta. Their communities are scattered throughout the area in a loose network of reserves and non-reserve settlements, as well as in larger towns and urban centers.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Cree language instruction has been established in some schools and colleges, and efforts to encourage higher education among young people have led to an increase in educational attainment in recent decades.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Most of the Plains Cree are professing Christians belonging to a variety of denominations, though predominantly Catholic, Anglican, or Pentecostal. However, traditional spiritual beliefs and practices remain strong, even among Christians. Many see Christianity as dealing with the afterlife, whereas traditional ways deal with the issues and problems of daily life.

What Are Their Needs?

Faced with challenges such as high levels of poverty and unemployment, the Plains Cree have made some gains in raising their economic status.
However, despite these gains, Plains Cree continue to lag far behind the majority of Canadians in economic status. High rates of alcoholism and suicide and the breakdown of traditional cultural values have weakened family ties and the underlying cultural fabric. A revived sense of cultural identity is evident in the resurgence of cultural ceremonies such as the Sun Dance, as well as the revival of traditional religion, and a small but growing corpus of language materials and published texts.

Prayer Items

Pray for the Lord to provide for the physical and spiritual needs of the Plains Cree nation.
Pray for the Holy Spirit to move powerfully in their families and churches, driving them closer to the King of kings.
Pray that Plains Cree Christians will find their dignity and worth in Jesus Christ.
Pray that they will soon become Christ's ambassadors to the spiritually lost.

Scripture Prayers for the Cree, Plains in Canada.

References

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