“Elders in the community have expressed happiness and pride in seeing their language and culture showcased to the world through the website. They value the platform's role in preserving and promoting their heritage, ensuring that future generations can learn and connect with their roots.” - Jay Calahasen, Communications Manager, Kee Tas Kee Now Tribal Council Education Authority
The Challenge
Kee Tas Kee Now Tribal Council Education Authority (KTCEA) provides K-12 education, with a focus on Cree language and land-based learning, in four Cree First Nations. When looking for a new website provider, they needed more than usual specialized tools for school districts: they needed a platform that would represent their culture.
KTCEA already has a strong brand that reflects their culture. “The organization,” Jay Calahasen, Communications Manager at KTCEA, explains, “emphasizes respect and inclusivity, celebrating the diversity and richness of Indigenous cultures, and promotes environmental stewardship by highlighting the importance of conservation and connection to the land. Additionally, KTCEA collaborates with the community, community Leaders, and Elders to ensure authenticity and respect in its branding efforts. Through these efforts, KTCEA not only promotes Indigenous culture, Cree language, and values but also educates and engages a wider audience, fostering greater understanding and appreciation.”
The challenge for the website wasn’t in building the brand, but in giving it a space where it could flourish online. “The website serves as a vital platform for representing KTCEA’s brand and community by providing a comprehensive and accessible hub for information, resources, and cultural representation,” Jay says. “It showcases the organization's commitment to promoting Indigenous culture, Cree language, and values through various features and content.”
There were four pieces that were key to KTCEA to have reflected on their website: integrating cultural elements, supporting linguistic diversity, providing education resources, and promoting Indigenous values of sustainability and respect for the land.
“Language integration,” he adds, “is a key aspect, with bilingual communication in both English and the Cree language being used across marketing materials, websites, and social media posts. This approach includes providing translations and explanations of Cree terms to educate and engage a broader audience.” The new website would need more than just the usual translation capacities: it needed to display both languages simultaneously.
Rally’s purpose-built Content Management System (CMS) is designed to simplify sharing documents and resources online, empowering KTCEA to easily share resources with their community. For KTCEA’s custom website, our design team had two big challenges: incorporating KTCEA’s beautiful brand and two languages throughout the website.
The Solution
“Culturally,” Jay says, “KTCEA ensures that Indigenous representation is prominent through Cree colors in logos, promotional materials, and digital platforms, in the communities we serve.” Rally’s design team was able to incorporate these elements throughout the website, from the colours to the background graphics. Working closely with the team at KTCEA, we were able to incorporate their brand throughout the website.
Having two languages displayed simultaneously on the website also runs the risk of having a very busy website. Our team worked with KTCEA to determine how to balance both languages without overwhelming visitors to the website. Behind the scenes, our development team also made some adjustments to Rally’s CMS that empowered KTCEA to add additional content in Cree alongside the English language.
The Result
“The website design and layout,” Jay says, “incorporate traditional and contemporary Indigenous colors, creating a visually appealing and culturally significant online presence. This aesthetic not only reflects the identity of the KTCEA community but also engages visitors with a genuine representation of Indigenous heritage.”
There’s so many incredible details on the KTCEA website. From background graphics that reflect their connection to the lands, to the vibrant use of colour, the website is testament to Cree culture.
On the homepage, visitors can toggle between Cree and English languages, translating content accordingly. In the menu, each page name is listed in both Cree and English. “The website is a bilingual platform,” Jay adds, “offering content in both English and Indigenous languages. This inclusion of Indigenous languages highlights the importance of linguistic diversity and supports language revitalization efforts. It ensures that community members can access information in their preferred language, fostering inclusivity and respect for cultural heritage.”
“Additionally,” Jay continues, “the website provides extensive resources and information about educational programs, KTCEA led community events, and initiatives that support the well-being and development of the community. By highlighting these programs and events, the website reinforces KTCEA’s commitment to community empowerment and education.”
The tools for sharing these resources already existed within the Rally CMS. The new website empowers them to put their resources front and center, from videos and documents to calendar events. Check out their Cree language resources (including an app and radio channel) and land-based learning library (including a student documentary and sample lessons). These pages centralize KTCEA’s key resources and make them easier to share with their community,
“The website effectively represents KTCEA’s brand and community by integrating cultural elements, supporting linguistic diversity, providing valuable education resources, and promoting Indigenous values of sustainability and respect for the land,” Jay says. “This comprehensive approach ensures that the website serves as a true reflection of KTCEA’s mission and the vibrant communities it supports.
“Rally provided an exceptional experience with their top-notch team, who made our transition to a new website seamless and stress-free.” Jay adds. “Their dedication to seeing our dream of bringing the Cree language to our site was truly appreciated.”
Since Then
“The website has been positively received by the community, particularly by Cree language speakers and learners,” Jay says. “The inclusion of Cree language content and cultural elements has been met with appreciation and enthusiasm. Elders in the community have expressed happiness and pride in seeing their language and culture showcased to the world through the website. They value the platform's role in preserving and promoting their heritage, ensuring that future generations can learn and connect with their roots. With their user-friendly interface, efficient performance, and outstanding customer support, Rally exceeded our expectations in every way.” It’s been incredible to work with the team at KTCEA, and we couldn’t be more pleased with their new website. We look forward to many more years of partnership.