We’koqma’q Community

NEWS

Page 1 November 29,2018

The Assembly was present as Eagle Feathers were smudged and sworn into Nova Scotia Courts.

Today, Elder Jane Abram blessed 33 eagle feathers for use in NS courthouses. Thank you to the Mi'kma'q leaders, especially Chief Paul Prosper, for their guidance in taking this important step toward a more inclusive & relevant justice system for First Nations peoples

Tomorrow our Judges will join First Nation leaders from across the province to celebrate the introduction of the sacred eagle feather into NS courthouses & courtrooms. They will be used in the same way the Bible is when swearing a legal oath ns_justice ndigenous The sacred eagle feather, rather than on the Bible

It's a full circle moment for me," said Charlotte Poulette, who is Mi'kmaw of We'koqma'q First Nation ,Poulette was asked to provide a witness statement in a legal matter in 2016. RCMP officers involved in the investigation asked her to swear an oath on the Bible, and Charlotte Poulette refused.

Margaret Poulette is a Shubenacadie Mi’kma’q Residential School and thoughts of the Catholic Church can be painful, she said. I got really upset with them because I wanted the eagle feather, she said. I am not swearing on a Bible."

Charlotte Poulette, Margaret Poulette

Further to the eagle feather initiative and its required educational components, the Nova Scotia judiciary has been engaging in cultural competency training, led in part by Mi'kmaw officials, and visiting communities to discuss the issues the Mi'kma'q are facing.

We’koqma’q Community

NEWS Page 2 November 29,2018

Remembrance Day

November 11th marks Remembrance Day

Ms Tiffany Gould Teacher of We’koqma’q School sing with her students in Mi’kma’q

Today, we honour all of our loved ones who sacrificed their lives so we can live ours.

Andrew Smith

Steven Googoo Gordon Googoo Wilfred Googoo

Ralph Moore Peter Phillips

We’koqma’q Community

NEWS Page 3 November 29,2018

Cassidy Jean Bernard

Using red dresses was the brainchild of Winnipeg-based Métis artist Jaime Black, who created the Redress Project five years ago. Black has collected hundreds of donated red dresses that have since been displayed in public spaces across Canada. Although Black’s installations have been shown in public before, this year the artist asked all Canadians to display a red dress as a sign of support for indigenous women.

We'koqma'q band officials have offered a $100,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest and conviction in the death of Cassidy Jean Bernard.

RCMP say officers responded to a call of a suspicious death at a home on Hwy. 105 in the First Nations community Oct. 24.

They say the 22-year-old woman from We'koqma'q was found unresponsive. Police say two infant children were at the home at the time, but were not harmed.

Mona Bernard Mom of the late Cassidy Bernard

We’koqma’q Community

NEWS Page 4 November 29,2018

Communities rally together to missing and murdered and indigenous women across Canada

We’koqma’q residents supporters block causeway seeking answers in Cassidy bernard dead

On Monday, wearing a bright red dress and leggings with a beaded headband bearing MMIW, she led a procession down to the Canso Causeway because another young woman had been killed.

On Oct. 24, 22-year-old Cassidy Bernard was found dead in her We’koqma’q home.

The RCMP have said little else other than that they don’t believe it was a “random act” as they wait for the results of the medical examiner’s report.

But the band council is saying that she was murdered and is offering $100,000 for any information that brings the perpetrator to justice.

“My family is all overwhelmed,” said Cassidy Bernard’s mother, Mona Bernard. We need to heal. We need to pray. And I have faith that we will get answers

We’koqma’q Community

NEWS

First Nations self-government summit in Halifax to talk goals and processes

Page 4 November 29,2018

The inaugural First Nations Self Government Summit, a three-day conference sponsored by the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) and a number of Atlantic region

First Nations organizations, is scheduled for this week in Halifax.

The Mi'kma'q Grand Council, which predates European contact with the Mi'kma'q, now includes a Grand Chief, Grand Keptin, and about 40 Keptin from communities in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland

Despite its historical importance, Denny said, the Grand Council is not currently recognized by Canada or provincial governments as having any political jurisdiction.

The Grand Council has always been here but the government doesn't want to deal with us," Denny said If Canada wants reconciliation, why don't they reconcile with the true national government of the Mi'kma'q? " Denny said finding Mi'kmaw self-sufficiency in language preservation, education and environmental protection can't be achieved if leaders are reliant on Canadian policy and

Restoring the strength of traditional roles and practices, or the "Mi'kmaw way," is the best way to start, Denny said, but that the effects of colonization have slowed progress. We need to figure out what's important to us," Denny said.

We’koqma’q Community Events

Page 6 November 29,2018

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Contact: Albert Toney Phone : 902-756-3191 Leave a message Email: alberttoney@waycobah.ca