What We Do and About Us
About Circle Teachings Publishing
Circle Teachings Publishing was created to support community resilience through relationship-building and storytelling. We take on projects that celebrate culture and hold the potential to bring people together over common values regardless of differences in generation, gender, sexual orientation, or nation.
We have been in operation since 2013, in the Treaty 6 area of amiskwaciwâskahikan (Edmonton). We recognize that Indigenous nations have faced violence and displacement through the process of colonization and that this process is why we are able to occupy the land we do today. We wish to work together with activists, educators, Elders, traditional knowledge keepers and community members on this land to tackle oppression, and to support Indigenous resurgence by publishing Indigenous languages and stories and preserving the knowledge of traditional Elders in our communities.
We plan to work cross-culturally to publish stories and teachings held by people living in Treaty 6 territory whose stories and cultures come from other parts of the world.
Purpose and Intention
- To promote the recognition of our interconnectedness and interdependence
- To catalyze positive social and environmental change through educational media, experiential learning opportunities, and relationship building
- To affirm Indigenous rights and human rights
- To support Elders in their traditional roles as cultural teachers, leaders, and ceremonialists
- To preserve cultural knowledge ways and Indigenous languages
- To provide educators with resources that accurately portray the history of Turtle Island and the Indigenous cultures here, approved by Elders
- To promote understanding of Indigenous Nationhood amongst Canadians
- To stand for justice and create media that promotes it
- To reveal the sacred responsibility in what is considered political, and make the political sacred (natural law: we all have a responsibility to uphold and protect the environment, the future generations, and all living things)
- To encourage and participate in relationship building between Indigenous and settler communities
- To promote justice for Indigenous children and their guardians, families, and communities in the midst of continual institutional trauma and the separation of children from their families
- To honour and support Indigenous women, men, and gender variant or non-conforming peoples in their roles in community, and celebrate their contributions to this world
Capabilities
Circle Teachings Publishing is a full service Design and Publishing company that can help bring your project to life all the way from inception to finished project. We have a vast array of services such as:
History Research
- Interdisciplinary Local to National History Research
- Industry & Company Histories
- Family Histories
- Land Use History
- Historical Building Research
- Museum Outreach Support
- Archival Photograph Research
- Oral Recording & Transcription
Multimedia Products and Services
- Historical & Custom Calendars
- Book Design & Publishing
- Copy Writing & Editing
- History Literacy Strategies
- Illustrating & Graphic Design
- History Graphics
- Digital Scanning
- Photograph Restoration
- Corporate & Family Timelines
- Video Production Support
- Assignment & Stock Photography
- Conference & Tradeshow Displays
- Printmaking
- Custom Picture Framing
- Family History Frames
- Corporate History Frames
- History Showcase Frames
- Annual Reports
Our Team
Testimonials
Anne Frances
"The calendar is definitely a treasure to behold with the shared knowledge, wisdom and depth of the teachings from the Elders.
This brings a greater understanding and deeper appreciation
of all that has been unknown to many of us."
Lillian Shirt
"I admire and respect what you are doing. The calendar contains
all very important topics and substance very much included
in Indigenous culture."
Emiline Roan
"I think the calendar is a really good idea because there are so many teachings to share the knowledge of and what they mean. We learn from each-other what we were taught and told."
Jennifer Jackson
“Great teaching tool to keep for use within the home. Keep up the amazing work and I hope to see more resources such as this.”
Kevin John
"I just wanted to thank you for the meeting yesterday, and your remarkable example of Kisewatisiwin! I am immensely blessed by the impeccable work of your team on the calendars."
Joanna Gladue
"This is absolutely a beautiful wonderful idea and i am very excited to gift them to our families and local schools on behalf of our Nation."
Derek Chewka
"I bought nine calendars this year! I just wanted to drop a line to say the calendars are fantastic. I work in the area of children's services and there are only a few tools we can provide caregivers to explore what it means to be indigenous with a child/youth. The calendar does just that. It also provides a child an actual visual - whereby they see someone depicted who is of the same color, doing things they have seen. The calendar also keeps memories alive. I love gifting the calendar to those who are just starting to explore their own identity on how they do their work with someone who is of an indigenous ancestry. So much learning from one calendar."
Liz Settee
"I was fortunate enough to be at the first National Gathering of the Elders, held in Edmonton in September 2017. I came upon Circle Teachings' booth where calendars were being sold. I have never been so impressed with a calendar. It is by far more than just a calendar. The information and teachings are such an amazing educational tool. Teachers and students could learn together. "Stories from the Bush" includes Cree along with English, very refreshing. Having days, months and other words in Cree is a stepping stone for those who do not speak their mother tongue. "Stories from the Kohkoms" have traditional teachings that have almost been forgotten. Both calendars include a timeline and a wealth knowledge that needs to be shared with everyone. I am so amazed with the calendars that i am selling them as a fundraiser for an upcoming community Pow Wow."
Sheila M. Johansen
I was given the Calendar “Stories from the Bush” last year for a neighboring program on a relational Cree Nation facilitator. I just wanted to share that at the Ermineskin Women’s Shelter, we use the calendar as a reference and guideline to important teachings for the weekly children’s program. It has been foundational to understanding the seasons, moons and the traditional teaching that come with each season. My weekly program teaches the language with the naming of each month and provides ideas for crafts, games or art work. Thank you to all that made this possible to access all this rich teaching and knowledge to be passed onto the mothers and children.
Bridget A. Fanta
“I believe this calendar will be of great value not only to the general population but also to any school in Alberta which has any Aboriginal students. This calendar, in any classroom, would be a huge valuable historical resource for years to come. I guarantee it that teachers will welcome it with open arms. Great job, Randal and team.”