Important and Informative
I have sensed a deep connection to my SPIRITUALITY from a very early age.
I have sensed a deep connection to my SPIRITUALITY from a very early age.
I hunted , fished , gathered berries and wild vegetables (living off and on the land).I was accustomed to Mother Earth and traveled with my uncle and cousins and spent most of my l spare time walking the country of Western Newfoundland,sleeping in old log cabins. Side camps were home to me for many nights at a time.
My teachers from our Mi'kmaq traditions were SPIRITUAL, Mi'kmaw and traditional L'NU; George Paul and Cathy Joe. Their teachings have sustained me throughout my life.
From a very early age I was taught to be respectful of my ELDERS. Respect and a helping them were part of what was done for the ELDERS in our Community.
I joined the FNI in 1985 ( having only scratched the surface) of my SPIRITUAL understandings. At that time many people in Bay George did not know they had ties with the Mi'kmaq Nation. The L'nu of K'taqmkuk have since then taken a stand to revitalize their CULTURE which had been almost lost and forgotten.
When I helped kick start the St. George's Band and in 1989 was affiliated with FNL, I became Chief of the St. George's Indian Band. I acquired a building for the Mi'kmaq of St. George to have their meetings.
My teachers from our Mi'kmaq traditions were SPIRITUAL, Mi'kmaw and traditional L'NU; George Paul and Cathy Joe. Their teachings have sustained me throughout my life.
From a very early age I was taught to be respectful of my ELDERS. Respect and a helping them were part of what was done for the ELDERS in our Community.
I joined the FNI in 1985 ( having only scratched the surface) of my SPIRITUAL understandings. At that time many people in Bay George did not know they had ties with the Mi'kmaq Nation. The L'nu of K'taqmkuk have since then taken a stand to revitalize their CULTURE which had been almost lost and forgotten.
When I helped kick start the St. George's Band and in 1989 was affiliated with FNL, I became Chief of the St. George's Indian Band. I acquired a building for the Mi'kmaq of St. George to have their meetings.
I set up a Mi'kmaq drum and singing group here in the Bay St. George area. I took direction from the ELDERS' who sat on our council. This is how Mi'kmaq people make decisions.
I volunteered my time making presentations in the school system here on the West Coast and also helped set up a group in Central Newfoundland and later set up a group at the Native Friendship Center in St. John's.
When my marriage brake up I turned to drinking. The emotional pain was too much to bear and alcohol numbed this profound hurting. After a while with some help from my friends and family, I got the help I needed and stopped drinking.
During my working days as I was young I sailed with the Upper Lake Shipping Company from Toronto and sailed the whole Western Seaboard.
When my marriage brake up I turned to drinking. The emotional pain was too much to bear and alcohol numbed this profound hurting. After a while with some help from my friends and family, I got the help I needed and stopped drinking.
During my working days as I was young I sailed with the Upper Lake Shipping Company from Toronto and sailed the whole Western Seaboard.
I worked in the forests fields as a Forest Ranger 11 and was later fire Boss over the unit , here in the Bay St, George area, working throughout the Island and in Labrador.
In later years I worked as prospector on the Island and in Labrador.
I spent time volunteering at Native Friendship Centers with youth and I helped set up programs. I traveled in the many Provinces throughout Canada and in my spare time I stayed at my cabin up Flat Bay Brook in Helch Gulch in part , for 27 years .
Trying to stay on a spiritual path is very hard, although I have received much respect for my accomplishments over the past thirty years. In those years we had no pipe carries, sweat lodge keepers , spirit name givers, or medicine people.
Trying to stay on a spiritual path is very hard, although I have received much respect for my accomplishments over the past thirty years. In those years we had no pipe carries, sweat lodge keepers , spirit name givers, or medicine people.
People barely knew the Mi'kmaq language and as I was completely lost living in an European society.
In 2014 many of our Mikmaq people on K'taqmkuk gathered at our Mawiomi and every one was saying Pjila'si-welcome and there were over three thousand people present on Saturday.
In 2014 many of our Mikmaq people on K'taqmkuk gathered at our Mawiomi and every one was saying Pjila'si-welcome and there were over three thousand people present on Saturday.
Many of our youth attended the gathering which made me so proud because twenty years ago there was very few of our youth dressed in full regalia and trying to learn more about our Mi'kmaq culture.
In concluding this writing I want to say we are fortunate to have some Mi'kmaq people that are Mi'kmaq Elders and teachers here in the Bay St. George area. However people are coming out of the woodwork from here and everywhere professing to be Mi'kmaq teachers, pipe carries, name givers and sweat lodge keepers.
I know to be a pipe carrier one must be recognized by the community and those people are hard to find to fill that role in Mi'kmaq society.
In concluding this writing I want to say we are fortunate to have some Mi'kmaq people that are Mi'kmaq Elders and teachers here in the Bay St. George area. However people are coming out of the woodwork from here and everywhere professing to be Mi'kmaq teachers, pipe carries, name givers and sweat lodge keepers.
I know to be a pipe carrier one must be recognized by the community and those people are hard to find to fill that role in Mi'kmaq society.
The same goes for a Traditional Mi'kmaq Teacher of our culture.
The honor of being a sweat lodge keeper is only given to a person when he has been a helper for many years. This person must be seen as be living by our 7 spiritual teachings , even before they are considered to hold such a responsibility. Some people don't even make it and the name givers have to go through a sacred ceremony and then a name might be revealed.
Our youth are looking for direction from our ELDERS and TEACHERS about our way of life and how we live as Mi'kmaq. It is important that we have a discussion about who these people are and recognize these ELDERS and TEACHERS in a ceremony to present them to our COMMUNITY .
Pikto'l Sa'ke'j Muise..VJM
"Mandiewagque"
Up Flat Bay Brook
Our youth are looking for direction from our ELDERS and TEACHERS about our way of life and how we live as Mi'kmaq. It is important that we have a discussion about who these people are and recognize these ELDERS and TEACHERS in a ceremony to present them to our COMMUNITY .
Pikto'l Sa'ke'j Muise..VJM
"Mandiewagque"
Up Flat Bay Brook
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