On Sunday, October 1, 2000, Native elders and Mr. Mart Johanson, representing the Honourable Sheila Copps, Minister of Canadian Heritage, unveiled a plaque commemorating the National Historic significance of the Mi’kmaq Cultural Landscape at Kejimkujik National Park.
(left-right back row: Alex Denny, Charlie Labrador, Sister Dorothy Moore, Peter Christmas, front: Luke Doucette)

Those present were awestruck when Luke Doucette, Grade 4 student at Membertou First Nation Elementary school, opened the ceremony with the singing of “O Canada” in Mi’kmaw.  Luke has been learning the Mi’kmaw language for two years at his school in Membertou.

Membertou children and youth have lost their Mi’kmaw language and for the past several years parents and community leaders have initiated school Mi’kmaw language programs to restore their language.

O’KANATAO’kanata kmitkinaqinu l’nui’tipnek wen kejitoq ta’n tujiw
sa’q kesaluek mekitelmulek ki’s nekow kelni’ek tan
te’siek O’kanata, ankweyulnek ki’s sa’q maqamikew
westawu’lkewey O’kanata ankweyulnek ki’s sa’q
O’kanata ankweuilnekki’s sa’aq.

Treaty Day provided the opportunity to recognize the achievements of several First Nation people.  Mi’kmaw Kina’matnewey presented two scholarships to recipients of the Donald Marshall Sr. Memorial Scholarship. This year’s recipients are Sharon Paul of Eskasoni and Clifford Paul of Membertou.Mrs. Paul is the recipient of the graduate award.  During the last eight years, she has received a G.E.D diploma and  B.A. and B.Ed. degrees.  This fall she will graduate with a Masters degree in Education from St. Francis Xavier University.

Clifford Paul received the undergraduate award.  He completed his first year in the Mi’kmaq Science Advantage Program at the University College of Cape Breton and is advancing toward a Bachelor of Science degree in Community Studies.

The Chief Noel Doucette Memorial Youth Achievement Awards went to Matthew Christmas and Lindsay Marshall of Membertou and Julia Pineo of Horton.  This award was established in honour of the late Chief Noel Doucette and is presented to Mi’kmaq youth who possess leadership qualities and demonstrate high academic achievement.

The Grand Chief Donald Marshall Sr. Elder Award was presented to Katherine Sorbey of Eskasoni and Listuguj and Alex Denny of Eskasoni who were recognized for their outstanding contributions as Mi’kmaq elders.

Chief, council, educators, and Mi’kmaw Kina’matnewey staff came together on the Indian Brook First Nation to work toward fulfilling the educational vision of their community.  The strategic planning session held September 28, 2000 will be followed by a two-day planning session in October.More than 25 people attended the first session.  The good turn out reflects the community’s strong interest and commitment to education.

“Our goal over the next few years,” the first line of the vision  statement reads, “is to make education the top priority in the community and to look at the holistic child through education.”

The strategic planning process formulated their vision into a mission statement and specific goals for education were identified.  Some of the goals involved school capital planning, governance, financial management, communications, partnerships, student needs, and data gathering and analysis.

The process of striving for the educational needs in the community has been going on for several years, and is the source of frustration for those who continue to work for obtaining a new K-12 school in the community.

In the past, community leaders have been enthused to learn that Indian Brook  was placed second on the Indian and Northern Affairs Canada regional school priority rating list for a new school.  That enthusiasm quickly turned to disappointment when it became apparent that the term “school” on the regional school priority rating list was only applicable to existing DIAND funded schools, namely, the Sister Elizabeth Cody K-4 kindergarten, even though classes from K5 through grade 12 are being conducted within the walls of the community centre.

Marjorie Gould, Executive Director of Mi’kmaw Kina’matnewey, acknowledged the work of people from the Indian Brook community who have worked diligently on the Mi’kmaw Kina’matnewey capital planning and other working groups.  Among the work that the capital planning working group has performed was a comparative analysis between the Nova Scotia provincial and DIAND school space standards to arrive at an equitable school space allocation standard for capital planning purposes.  With that information, provisions can be made, for example, so that adequate classroom space is available to place computers in classrooms when new schools are built.

Since the Final Agreement with Respect to Mi’kmaw Education in N.S. was legislated in 1999, each participating community has jurisdiction over its own education.  Some of the challenging tasks such as negotiating necessary funding and implementing the vision have begun.

September’s contest, “Role Models” drew more than eighty entries from First Nation youth.  Students will be “published authors,” having their work available on the internet for family, friends and other interested people to see.October’s contest is called “Community Profiles.”  This contest will be a class project among First Nation schools, and will give students a chance to highlight their communities.

In an effort to recognize educators who participate in contests, the Help Desk announced that it will have a May drawing for a weekend for two at a resort hotel.

Teachers, parents, and students who want to plan for future contests can find a preliminary list of anticipated contests on the firstnationhelp.com web site.