A celebration of language and culture
Celebrating language and culture and promoting their role in child development and family life was the focus of a special event at the Woodstock First Nation (WFN) gymnasium on May 27.
Community leaders and members, including several mothers and their small children, gathered to enjoy the traditional lunch that was provided. Dessert took the form of a presentation by guest speaker Imelda Perley from the Wolastoq Language and Culture Centre at St Mary's First Nation. Wolastoq means People of the River.
Known as a language warrior because of her continuing efforts to preserve the Wolastoq language and culture, Perley is also a pioneer. Realizing the importance of passing language and traditions on to the next generation, she developed a program called From the Womb to Beyond or Oluwikoneyak Weckuwapasihtit in Maliseet, another name for the Wolastoq language, which translates literally as The ones who aren't born yet.
Perley also started up the first Headstart program in her area out of her own home, recognizing the benefits this comprehensive school readiness program would bring to her community.
A number of WFN's child development programs were represented at the event, including the WFN FASD Mentor Program. Charlene Tomah and Tanya Anderson explained, while Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is the source for funding, their program encompasses visits with all expectant moms in the community.
Anne Turner was also on hand, along with Amanda Taylor, representing the Talk With Me program which comes to Woodstock First Nation's Mothers and Babies group once a month.
"The moms are very interactive," Amanda commented. "It's great to see them with their babies."
Krista Wright said Wee School is a free program she holds twice a week to help prepare two year olds for preschool. The preschool program for three and four year olds, also hosted by the Child Development Centre, is directed by Janet Paul.
The afternoon began with an introduction by Chief Jeff Tomah after which lunch was provided. Lunch seems inadequate to describe the impressive spread of traditional dishes, including fiddleheads, chicken stew, a soup with hominy and beans, braised moose and Indian bread.
"We need more feasts to bring the community together," declared Perley, adding that she wants to teach traditional cooking and hold cooking contests as part of her program.
Following lunch, prayers and traditional drumming, there were two presentations. In the first, Perley described a project called Before the Dam. Before the dams were constructed on the St. John River, the Wolastoq or Maliseet language, was strong and vibrant. Since that time, the language and traditional way of life have diminished and the aim of this project is to reverse this loss. Using modern technology, Perley and her team are collecting the stories and experiences of their people to share with present and future generations.
Perley's assistants, Luke deMarsh and Josh Taylor, were on hand to provide technical support. As well as learning Maliseet in her class at the University of New Brunswick, they have been working on the Before the Dam project, which is planned to continue over the next three years.
From the Womb to Beyond was the focus of the second presentation, which was designed to include all Wolastoq children and their parents from pregnancy to age six. The project aims to promote cultural, spiritual and emotional health.
The idea of culture and language being linked to a sense of identity, wholeness, family and community came across clearly in the words and images being presented. The program encompasses a wide range of activities and training, from breast feeding workshops and naming ceremonies to sharing circles and family harmony workshops.
The afternoon was rounded off by a look at some Maliseet words – as well as encouraging people to try and pronounce them. Imelda explained their meanings and how they shaped the way Maliseet speakers related to each other and the world around them.
Anyone interested in obtaining further information about the Before the Dam project or From the Womb to Beyond, can contact Imelda Perley at (506) 460-8351.
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