Three women from Eskasoni First Nation provided the music for Saturday morning’s sunrise ceremony to mark National Indigenous People’s Day at the site of the Louisbourg lighthouse. Above, wearing traditional ribbon skirts are: Mia Gould; Adora Johnson; and Terri Leigh. The women opened the ceremony with the “Mi’kmaq Honour Song” and drummed and sang one other while about three dozen people stood in a circle listening to prayers by elder, Lottie Johnson. ROSEMARY GODIN/Cape Breton PostArticle content The group of people involved in developing the special day at the Highland Village to honour National Indigenous People’s Day gathered for a photo in front of the new mural painted by Mi’kmaw artist, Loretta Gould. Above, left to right are: Melissa Blunden, Highland Village manager; John Sylliboy, L’nu interpretative lead for the village; Mi’kmaw elder Albert Marshall; artist Loretta Gould; Karen Doucette of Eskasoni; speaker Jordan Francis and his son of Eskasoni; and Shamus Y. MacDonald, manager of culture and language. ROSEMARY GODIN/Cape Breton PostTHIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentIt all began on Cape Breton with a gift of tobacco and a prayer on Saturday as the sun was coming up over the horizon and its light was striking the majestic Louisbourg lighthouse. Article contentArticle contentAbout three dozen people stood in a circle in strong winds and overcast skies while Eskasoni elder and knowledge-keeper Lottie Johnson prayed and the “Mi’kmaq Honour Song” was drummed to commemorate National Indigenous People’s Day held annually on June 21. Article contentArticle content Mi’kmaw artist Loretta Gould, stands in front of the mural she painted for the Highland Village that was unveiled Saturday when the village honoured National Indigenous People’s Day. Gould was inspired in this work by the Seven Sacred Teachings of Turtle Island (North America). Using animals, trees, footprints and nature, she tells of the history of the Mi’kmaq and the Europeans in colourful symbols. ROSEMARY GODIN/Cape Breton PostArticle contentSaturday was just one day in a month when the federal government invites Canadians to reflect on what unites us all, such as: equity, respect for human rights, diversity, and a shared hope for a more inclusive future. Article contentJohnson, a residential school survivor and acclaimed Mi’kmaw rights advocate, said she was honoured to perform a sunrise service for summer solstice and also to represent the residential school survivors who never came home. Article content Mi’kmaw activist and knowledge-keeper Lottie Johnson of Eskasoni First Nation presided over a sunrise service at the Louisbourg lighthouse on Saturday morning. About three dozen people gathered in a circle while Johnson burned sage and prayed to the Creator. Johnson, a residential school survivor, said it was an honour for her to be asked to lead the event. ROSEMARY GODIN/Cape Breton PostArticle contentHEALING JOURNEYArticle contentThe Eskasoni First Nation band member said she was happy to be in Louisbourg to pray, speak and sing because events such as this help her on her healing journey. Article content With patience and wisdom, John Sylliboy, Highland Village’s new L’nu interpretative lead, answered questions from the public on Saturday’s event for National Indigenous People’s Day about everything from canoeing long distances; to how the Mi’kmaq pay respect to animals and nature; to traditional medicines and the problems with treaties. Sylliboy will be at the village five days a week to help visitors learn about Mi’kmaw culture. Above, he stands outside the Whycocomagh Portage School building open to the public at Highland Village. ROSEMARY GODIN/Cape Breton PostArticle contentIn declaring June as National Indigenous History Month, a press release from the government said: “To move Canada forward, we must continue to learn from Indigenous Peoples, their experiences, and build on the significant contributions Indigenous Peoples make in advancing Canada. We must reflect on the lasting harms caused by colonization and consider the role we each play in advancing reconciliation.” Article contentArticle contentThe sunrise service was organized by the Cape Breton chapter of the Public Service Alliance of Canada Union; Sydney RWC; and the Eskasoni Teachers Union. Article contentTWO CULTURESArticle contentLater, at the Highland Village in Iona, a number of speakers and Indigenous-themed animations paired the history of the Gaels in Cape Breton with the much-older presence of the Mi’kmaw. A highlight was the unveiling of a new mural in the village’s gathering room painted by Eskasoni artist Loretta Gould. Her mural represents the seven sacred teachings on Turtle Island (North America): truth, honesty, respect, courage, love, humility and wisdom. Article content There was a happy pairing of cultures on Saturday when those representing the Gaels and the Mi’kmaq came together to share their heritage at the Highland Village in Iona. Above, animator Cecilia Laing stirs up a batter for the Mi’kmaw traditional four-cents cake, or luskini’kin, which is a fried quick bread. John Sylliboy, the village’s L’nu interpretative lead looks on. ROSEMARY GODIN/Cape Breton PostArticle contentOn hand to see the unveiling of the mural were leading Mi’kmaw environmental voice,Albert Marshall and John Sylliboy of Eskasoni who last week was announced as the Village’s L’nu Interpretative Lead – a new position developed in consultation with the L’nu Advisory Group at Highland Village. The position is designed to incorporate Mi’kmaw language, history, and cultural perspectives into the heritage story told onsite. Article content Basket-weaving is an art that began to disappear with the advent of ready-made containers made out of durable materials like plastic and metal. In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in making baskets from old ways of gathering, preserving, preparing and weaving to create the highly sought-after traditional Mi’kmaw baskets. Above, Lynn Battiste of Eskasoni provided a display of her skills at the Highland Village on Saturday. She uses black ash, but says it is becoming more rare to find a supply due to environmental changes. She has been researching different materials she can use in the future. ROSEMARY GODIN/Cape Breton PostArticle contentShamus Y. MacDonald, manager of culture and language at the Highland Village said Saturday he is excited to have Sylliboy join the team because of his individual experience and knowledge. Article content“It’s important to have a Mi’kmaw presence ‘on the hill,” MacDonald said. He said the Mi’kmaw story is the story of the Gaels in Cape Breton too. Article content“It shapes everything we do in some capacity.” Article contentSylliboy will be on-site at Highland Village five days a week to greet visitors and tell them the Mi’kmaw story before and after European contact. Article content Shamus Y. MacDonald, manager of culture and language at the Highland Village in Iona, was happy with the turnout of visitors to a special day honouring National Indigenous People’s Day on Saturday. The day paired the history of Gaels in Cape Breton with the much older history of the Mi’kmaq in Unama’ki. MacDonald said the expansion of Mi’kmaw history at the village enables the story of Cape Breton to be told in a fuller manner. ROSEMARY GODIN/Cape Breton PostArticle content
Indigenous Peoples Day provides historical learning in Unamaki
