Wabanaki art takes centre stage in Fredericton

Hundreds of Indigenous artistsmade their way to Frederictonthis week, to celebrate Wabanaki art, to network and to showcase their own talent atthe PetapanFirst Light Symposium this weekend.

Theconference is just whatIndigenous artists needed, said Jeff Ward.

"This is for the artist by the artist, and I think it's so important for us to share our stories," said Ward, 48.

He's L'nu, Mi'kmaw for person of the land, from Metepenagiag Mi'kmaq Nation and now lives in Membertou First Nation onUnama'ki (Cape Breton Island).Ward made the 643 km trip because he thinks networking and funding arestill barriersfor Indigenous artists but events like this can create pathways to meeting those shortfalls.

Wardis an actoras well as the general manager at the heritage park in Membertou, where they sell authentic Indigenous crafts.

"My day-to-day business is to work and promote art, and I need to see what'sout there, and who'sout there," said Ward.

He attended the film festival part of the event Friday with his uncle George Paul. Ward saidhe wasinspired by the films showcased and hopes Indigenous actors can be featured in big budget films in the future.

Onefilmmaker who got to make herdebut atthe film festival isAsha Bear, who is Wolastoqew and Mi'kmawfrom Neqotkuk First Nation in New Brunswick. Her film Indigenous Identity screened at the Friday event on St. Thomas University campus.

The film is a personal story of Bear's and featuresher mother and sister as actorsin the short film.

"It's about my journey with my Indigenous identity and what I went through," said Bear, 26.

"My grandmother is a residential school survivor, so growing up I didn't really get much like culture or anything like that.It's just really about how I became who I am today, and embracingmy Indigenous identity."

Her grandmother was forced to attend the Shubenacadie residential school n Nova Scotia. Now, Bear is learning to dance sing and drum and runs a beading business.

Petapan runs June 9-12.CorrinaMerasty, one of the organizers, isCree from Mathais Colomb First Nation in northern Manitoba but has lived in the Wabanaki region for decades. She saidthe event isabout learning from one another.

"We're all coming together as a real way to connect, to network, to celebrate and think about what we're going to do in the future," said Merasty, who is also the Indigenous arts outreach officer with ArtsNB.

Events includea fashion show, art exhibits, medicine walks, an Indigenous vendors marketand a film festival. Organizers covered the cost of travel, lodging and food for the artists. Merastysaidthe event cost close to $500,000 and was funded by the Canada Council through Mawi'Art: Wabanaki Artist Collective.

Merasty is an actor and filmmaker herself and saidthe arts aremeaningful to her life.

"I can't live without the arts."said Merasty.

"Arts has saved my life, to be honest with you. And that's what I try to spread."