Haida Carver James Hart

The Dance Screen, a massive wooden sculpture featuring principal animal figures from Haida stories is now on display at the Vancouver Art Gallery (VAG) until January 2014. 
Artist James Hart  will talk about the process of creating his screen in a special artist presentation on Tuesday March 26 at 7pm (at the VAG). 

"In late 2009, artist James Hart began designing a large-scale sculpture titled The Dance Screen (The Scream Too) and began carving the work in 2010. This ambitious project brings together many of the principal animal figures from traditional Haida stories, especially creatures that depend on salmon for their survival."

Hart has worked with Robert Davidson and Bill Reid and has been included in major exhibitions of Haida and Northwest Coast art around the world. 

Introducing....

I was at a presentation recently, and the main speaker introduced herself with a few words from the Squamish language before beginning her talk. I was struck by the power of being able to say a few words in her own heritage language and thought that I would like to be able to do the same thing. I think it shows a sense of reclaiming your past and bringing that into your present cultural identity.

So for me, maybe I need to begin my presentations with

"Kwe'  (gway). Ni'n-teluisi  (neen-dell-who-easy) Gordon Powell..."

Mi'kmaw Creation story

I came across this great blog post that retells the Mi'kmaw creation story, introducing all the important people and animals, and their place in the traditional stories. It has helped me get a better sense of the richness of our culture.

A+ for Mi'kmaq Schools in NS

“Our students going in are more confident”

http://thechronicleherald.ca/novascotia/149588-an-a-plus-for-mi-kmaq-schools

There are 11 Mi’kmaq schools in Nova Scotia and about 2,900 First Nations students in the province. With support from Mi’kmaw Kina’matnewey and additional resources from the province, even Mi’kmaq students who are going into the provincial schools “are having a lot more success.”  An annual report released this week shows that First Nations students are graduating from high school in Nova Scotia at a rate more than double the national rate of 35 per cent.

“Our students going in are more confident,” referring to Grade 12 students. “When they go in in the fall, they’re saying ‘This is the year I am going to graduate.’ And 89.3 per cent of them are graduating in June.”


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Treaty Day 2012 - Nova Scotia

"Treaty Day, held annually on October 1st, marks the beginning of Mi'kmaq History Month in Nova Scotia as proclaimed in 1993 by then Premier John Savage and Mi’kmaq Grand Chief Ben Sylliboy. The purpose of Treaty Day is to promote public awareness about the Mi’kmaw culture and heritage for all citizens of Nova Scotia." (Find out more.)

Proclamation Video Documentary

"On Treaty Day, the 1st day of October, 2008, the Chiefs and Councils of the 13 Mi'kmaw communities of Nova Scotia came together at Province House, the seat of the Nova Scotia Legislature in Halifax, to proclaim and assert the Nationhood of the Mi'kmaq of Nova Scotia over their traditional lands and waters. Through this Proclamation the Mi'kmaq Chiefs and Councils of Nova Scotia agreed to work together to develop a Mi'kmaw governance structure that unites and empowers our Nation to enhance the quality of life and well-being of our People. This documentary captures the feelings of the Assembly of Nova Scotia Chiefs after the Proclamation of Mi'kmaq Nationhood."

Some Basic info about the Qalipu Band

Looking for some basic information about  the Creation of the Qalipu Mi'kmaq First Nation Ban? This page from Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada gives some of the background, and answers the frequently asked questions.

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Documentary celebrates Mi’kmaq identity in Flat Bay

"Production of the first ever documentary to celebrate the Mi’kmaq identity and way of life in the Flat Bay area is nearly complete."

“L’nug Aganutmaqan” (the native’s story), depicts survival through the hardships of living on the west coast of Newfoundland in communities situated between the Fishells and Flat Bay Rivers.

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Legends and Mermaids

I was reading about Mi'kmaq legends and came across a reference to the Sabawaelnu ("water dwelling folk") or Halfway People. What a rich and interesting world my people inhabited! This is a story I knew nothing about, but has many resonances with Selkies from the Celtic side of my family.

[link to Sabawaelnu reference in "MicMac Indians of Eastern Canada"]

Election of Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation Band Council

First Election of Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation Band Council Set For October 23, 2012.
[Link here for more information]
(September 17, 2012 Corner Brook, NL) 

Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation will be holding its first election on October 23, 2012 for all positions on its band council – Chief, Central Vice Chief, Western Vice Chief and a Council for each of the nine wards throughout Newfoundland....


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