Wolastoq youth celebrated as keepers of heritage at powwow

Wolastoq youth are being celebrated as the keepers of their heritage atthe annual powwow on the St. Mary's First Nation near Fredericton.

This event, which is drawing visitors from all over the province to St. Mary's First Nation, is meant to be a gathering of friendship to celebrate the culture.

The area where the powwow is being held is coming alive withsinging, dancing, drumming and storytelling.

Imelda Perley,an elder at the Woolastook centre at the University of New Brunswick, welcomedvisitors to St. Mary's First Nation on Fridayby burning sweet grass and purifying the air around her.

Perley is dedicated to the preservation of the Maliseet languageand teaches it to those around her who want to learnin a way to protect the language from disappearing.

Eagle feathers are a sign of respect

Her recent protge Liberty Francis, 11,was three years old when she began to learn the language.

Liberty's efforts have earned her two eagle feathers, a sign of respect that she can only receive from an elder.

"As an elder, we witness what our young are doing and she definitely has earned those feathers," said Perley.

"I watched her on Treaty Day when she expressed and spoke in her language and so she earned one for that."

Perley said Liberty earned her second eagle feather by being willing to speak to others about her language before the powwow on short notice when an elder asked her.

"I want to learn how to speak our language so I can keep it going on the reserve," Liberty said.

Liberty said it means a lot to come out to the powwow to dance in her regalia.

Perley and Liberty performed a verse of their morning song on their drums to celebrate the visitors coming, to honour the sacred fireand their ancestral strength.

"The song is to let creation know that we still sing," said Perley.

Information Morning - Fredericton16:43Part 1 - Andrea Bear-Nicholas, Imelda Perley

Terry Seguin visited St. Mary's First Nation this morning ahead of the 17th annual Pow Wow.

Chief battles self esteem loss with culture

St. Mary's ChiefCandice Paul has been chief for the past 12years and just won her seventh term in the band elections.

The land where this year'spowwow is being held is sentimental to Paul because her mother was born very close by 82 years ago.

"There was a village of families and a lot of our elders were born right at home here, so it's very important that we remember them," said Paul.

The village was moved to a different area, so now Paul carries the memories of that time and shares it with the newer generation.

"When I speak to our youth I tell them to dream, and nothing is unachievable," said Paul.

One of the challenges in the community that Paul works to overcome is the low self-esteem of the area, brought about by their loss of voice in sharing their culture and history due to reservation schools.

"Now they have a sense of pride, the language being brought back, the powwow, they're proud of who they are now," said Paul.

Information Morning - Fredericton8:35Part 3 - Chief Candice Paul

Terry Seguin visited St. Mary's First Nation this morning ahead of the 17th annual Pow Wow.

Medicine wheels represent all people

Allan Polchies Jr. is a councillor ofSt. Mary's Nation,and one of the organizers of the powwow, whichis being held on the groundswhere his grandmother grew up.

"We are on the gathering rounds of the old reserve the grounds of our ancestors," said Polchies.

The medicine garden on the powwow grounds symbolizes what the First Nations people are physically, said Polchies.

"We are the red people, we are the white people, we are the black people and we are the yellow people, and those are symbolized internationally."

Information Morning - Fredericton15:37Part 4 - Possesom Paul, Alan Polchies

Terry Seguin visited St. Mary's First Nation this morning ahead of the 17th annual Pow Wow.