June was National Indigenous History Month (NIHM). At Saint Mary’s, we are committed to a campus and community that acknowledges, respects and values the contributions of Indigenous peoples, both within the Saint Mary’s community and the broader provincial landscape. NIHM reminds us to take time to learn and engage in respectful and productive discussions to explore where we have come from and how we move forward together as Treaty people.
Outlined by the Government of Canada, each week of NIHM highlighted a different theme related to aspects of Indigenous ways of knowing and being: environment, traditional knowledge and territory; children and youth; languages, cultures and arts; and women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people. These themes are an excellent starting point in exploring Indigenous history, perspectives and culture through the Saint Mary’s lens.
Week 1: Environment, Traditional knowledge and territory
Many within our SMU community are familiar with the land acknowledgement and our place in Mi’kma’ki. However, it’s important for us to understand its historical context, significance and meaning.
Mi’kma’ki is made up of seven districts that span all of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, as well as large areas of New Brunswick, the Gaspé Peninsula and Newfoundland. The districts include Epekwitk aq Piktuk, Ktaqmkuk, Unama’kik, Skikewa’kik, Kespukwitk, Siknikt, Kespe’k and Sɨpekne'katik.
The Mi’kmaq are among the original inhabitants of the Atlantic region in Canada and have occupied their traditional territory since time immemorial. Archaeological evidence and oral history indicate a Mi’kmaq presence in this territory for more than 10,000 years, long before English settlers arrived in the mid-1700s.
Week 2: Children and Youth
In Indigenous cultures, elders are the ones who hold knowledge, passing down information throughout generations. Nujikina’muet (someone who teaches) often use storytelling to pass down history, life lessons, sharing of experiences and guidance. Teaching is also done through kina’masuti (instruction), which is the method of passing on knowledge through hands-on learning and demonstration.
Lauryn Mason
With more than 6000 students pursuing their education here, Saint Mary’s University is focused on the academic growth, well-being and success of youth. Fostering the kekina’masuti (learning) of Indigenous students, like fourth-year student Lauryn Mason, supports opportunities for personal growth and developmental experiences as well as future readiness.
Lauryn is from Sackville, Nova Scotia; however, her family comes from Odawa M’nis (Manitoulin Island). Working to complete her Bachelor of Science with Honours in Chemistry, Lauryn recently defended her honours thesis entitled, An investigation of the applications of localization delocalization matrices on the prediction of reaction characteristics, which now resides in the Patrick Power Library. “Successfully defending my Honours thesis and having it submitted to the library is one of my proudest moments here at SMU,” reflects Lauryn.
While Lauryn prepares to close one chapter of her learning, she is already looking toward the next one as she is in the early stages of exploring the possibility of starting a Masters of Applied Science, where she may focus on working with small molecules here at Saint Mary’s.
In considering the future of Indigenous students at Saint Mary’s, Lauryn notes, “I think that Indigenous people are really strong, and there are more and more opportunities for Indigenous students every year. I think that these two factors combine to make a really bright image of the future for Indigenous scholars and academics.”
Week 3: Languages, Cultures and Arts
At Saint Mary’s, you will find a number of ways that Indigenous culture is reflected in the institution.
The Patrick Power Library is host to the Mi’kmaq Cultural Materials Display as part of an ongoing collaboration with the Nova Scotia Museum, the Indigenous Student Advising Office and the Indigenous Students’ Society.
Found on the main floor of the Library, the display includes beaver incisors for carving and woodworking, fragments of pottery, an axe head and other artifacts. This collection is accompanied by a selection of books written by indigenous authors, and books about indigenous cultures.
Around campus, you will also find a couple of pewitekemkewey (dream catchers). The main foyer of the O'Donnell Hennessey Student Centre and the Patrick Power Library are the home to these beautiful pieces. These pewitekemkewey were created by former SMU student Isaiah Bernard and his father, Wilbert Marshall, of Potlotek First Nation, in 2020.
Isaiah notes that the dream catcher originates from the Ojibwe nation. The design of the dream catcher mirrors that of the spider’s web, catching our bad dreams while allowing our good dreams to pass through as we sleep.
He shares the story of “a grandmother [who] patiently watched each day as a spider spun his web above her sleeping place until one day her grandson noticed the spider and tried to kill it.
“Don’t hurt him,” she told the boy in a soft tone, surprising him.
“But grandmother, you should not protect this spider.”
When the grandson left, the spider thanked the woman for her protection and offered her a gift. “I will spin you a web that hangs between you and the moon so that when you dream, it will snare the bad thoughts and keep them from you.”
At this, the grandmother smiled and continued to watch the spider spin his web.”
Week 4: Women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people
In 2023, Student Affairs and Services hosted the inaugural Paint Your Pride event, where the SMU community was invited to draw pride-centric chalk images in the Quad outside of the Student Centre. Among other things, the event gave the community a unique opportunity to explore the breakdown of the 2SLGBTQIA+ acronym and explore the associated flags that represent the many different identification components within the queer community.
During the Paint Your Pride 2023 event, Kyle Cook, then interim Indigenous Student Advisor, took the opportunity to sketch the flag as part of the chalk mural.
According to the Wabanaki Two Spirit Alliance (W2SA), the ”2S” in the acronym represents “two-spirit”, which is an umbrella term that encompasses Indigenous people “who demonstrate their identity primarily through culture and spirituality. They have emotional and sexual relationships with the same gender.”
The two-spirit flag depicts a rainbow with two feathers coming down from a circle. The feathers represent male and female, while the circle represents unification of masculine and feminine, reflecting dual spirit which transcends traditional gender roles.
As noted by John R. Sylliboy, co-founder of the W2SA, there is a “lack of ancestral knowledge or research about this concept in Mi’kmaq,” and the common Mi’kmaw term turning up in research is used in negative connotation. Instead, in his article Using L’nuwey Worldview to Conceptualize Two-spirit, John borrows from other Indigenous cultures for two-spirit concepts.
In exploring the final week’s theme, we cannot ignore the harsh truths of gender-based violence, hatred and systemic racism and oppression that significantly impact women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people.
Sensitive subject matter notice re: missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people. If you need immediate emotional assistance, call 1-844-413-6649.
In its 2019 report, The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMWG) concluded that “persistent and deliberate human and Indigenous rights violations and abuses are the root cause behind Canada’s staggering rates of violence against Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQIA people.”
The National Day of Action for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and Two Spirit People, also known as Red Dress Day, is commemorated annually on October 4. In 2022, a Red Dress display was installed in the windows of the Patrick Power Library in collaboration with the Indigenous Student Advisor and the Indigenous Students’ Society. The dresses symbolize and honour the women, girls and Two-Spirit people who are missing and murdered.
Red Dress display in the Patrick Power Library
The 2SLGBTQIA+ Sub-Working Group published a MMIWG2SLGBTQQIA+ National Action Plan which, alongside the history and data, notes the resiliency and resurgence for two-spirit people and reimagining the possibility of a better future.
Since the early 1990s, Indigenous authors, scholars, and educators implemented the term Two-Spirit as a source of resurgence. The report states, “The movement by Two-Spirit People to shift the power of balance back in the hands of Two-Spirit People began by continuously acknowledging their traditional knowledge and cultural teachings as part of the ceremonial circles.”
Much like the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action, the National Action Plan highlights necessary steps in developing a framework towards building change. As Treaty people, we are called to uphold the rights and responsibilities set forth for all of us residing within Mi’kma’ki. By learning the history of the land, people and culture, we can work towards repairing relationships and meaningful reconciliation.
To learn more about Indigenous community, culture and resources, along with relevant news and upcoming events at Saint Mary’s, visit the Indigenous Community Hub.
Students can connect with the Indigenous Student Advisor, Kylar Johnson, by reaching out to indigenous.advisor@smu.ca.