Membertou First Nation celebrates successes on National Aboriginal Day
Elders marvel at the pride young people take in their culture
In Membertou First Nation, National Aboriginal Day is a time to celebrate both Indigenous culture and the community's extraordinary achievements.
The First Nation is a success story, with new businesses, sports facilities and schools.
But for Peter Christmas, 79, who has attended many of the past 20 Aboriginal Days, such success and pride in culture wasn't always the way.
"Well, growing up, we were sort of ashamed of our own heritage," he recalled. "Today, kids, you see their Aboriginal dresses and Mi'kmaq headdress and so on. We were afraid to do that."
Self-government
As 400 people marked Aboriginal Day on Tuesday with a feast of snow crab and turkey dinners, Christmas remembered when things began to change for the better in Membertou.
"I think a lot of us started to think about self-government," he said. "Before that, we were governed by Indian Affairs and the Indian Act. Then it [self-government] sort of took off. Before that, there was hardly any employment here."
Christmas said National Aboriginal Day is a "reminder of our heritage, of teaching the kids that, you know, this is important … honouring our own elders, honouring our own heritage."
'Reawakening'
Clifford Paul is a businessman and jewellery artist who is watching his culture recover.
"The residential schools really beat that out of us," he said, "and now it's time for that reawakening, and National Aboriginal Day in all the communities helps contribute to that."
He said since the first Aboriginal Day 20 years ago, he's seen remarkable change.
"I seen our young people thrive and flourish in education, the arts, self-expression," he said.
"Our parents, our fathers, taught us the value of a strong work ethic, that your name is attached to your work, so it's inevitable that Membertou is a community of builders. All this construction you see today is bound to happen."
Christmas said his wish for the next 20 years is that people become fluent in the Mi'kmaq language once again.
Paul said in addition to the new rink, convention centre and businesses in Membertou, he would like to see growth in the arts with a recording studio and theatre in the community.