Article content“The opposite of love is fear. Some people are fearful of coming to our powwow and asking, ‘Why does that drum attract me?’ They’re scared – they know there’s something here (and he hits his chest) but they don’t realise it’s based on love.”Article contentGUIDED BY SURVIVORSArticle contentThe festival is being led by Indigenous voices and guided by survivors of Indian Day School. Ward is one of them.Article contentHe says there has been so much emphasis on the abuse suffered by those who attended Indian Residential Schools that some people may not know about the Indian Day Schools.Article contentHe says the things that happened there get overlooked.Article content“People say, ‘Well, they got to home every day,’ but there were still experiments done to us.”Article contentOne of the examples he remembers is daily fluoride flushes.Article content“Why were we doing it every single day? That kind of exposure to fluoride is not healthy.”Article contentAnother was giving them milk every day, even though it made some of them sick.Article contentArticle content“They made sure we had milk every day even though we are lactose intolerant,” he says.Article content(Lactose intolerance is common among the Indigenous population.)Article contentWhen he entered regular school in Sydney for Grade 7, those things stopped because children in regular school didn’t have the same treatment.Article content“It was like the system was set up for us to fail because we weren’t prepared,” Ward says. “We didn’t have the same curriculum in Indian Day School as others. Why wasn’t it identical when we were going to go to the same universities?”Article contentOther survivors have stories from school that traumatised them and changed their lives.Article contentWi’kipaltimk 2025 will honour those who survived Indian Day School by bringing their treatment to light and showing respect by offering them a time of joy, compassion and healing.Article contentThe entire weekend is an alcohol and drug-free event where intoxication and bad behaviour will not be tolerated by organisers or security guards on duty. This includes the evening concerts featuring some of the best musical talent in Nova Scotia. Headliners include Neon Dreams, the duo that just won the East Coast Music Award for Best Group 2025.Article contentArticle contentWard is pleased that so many Unama’ki First Nation communities will be coming together to celebrate Wi’kipaltimk 2025 in the same place.Article content“It’s important to honour your local people as much as you can because that’s where pride is. You have that sense of belonging by honouring your people.”Article contentIf You GoArticle contentWhere: Wi’kipaltimk 2025 cultural festival, Open Hearth Park, SydneyArticle contentWhen: Aug 8 –10 with Powwow Saturday and Sunday from 12 – 5 p.m.Article contentThings to Bring: Bug spray and sunscreenArticle contentA sun or rain umbrellaArticle contentBring a chair just in case. There are chairs for elders but bring your own lawn chairs and leave them in the car unless needed.Article contentCameras to take lots of photosArticle contentBlankets or jackets for evening eventsArticle contentAn open heartArticle content
‘Everybody’s welcome’ to large powwow at Cape Breton’s Open Hearth Park
