Multiple degrees enhance the family business for mother and daughter

Elora (standing) and Olwyn Gehue

Simultaneous studies in Arts and Commerce added up to the perfect combination for Elora Gehue of Halifax—and for her mother, Olwyn Terris-Gehue. The pair were seated side by side during their graduation ceremony this week at Saint Mary’s University.

“I’m not really sure how she felt about it when we first started to attend classes together but it definitely got better,” Terris-Gehue recalls with a chuckle.

“It’s been a great experience, honestly,” says Gehue, herself a mother of two young sons. “I think it made us closer too, being able to learn and grow with each other.”

The mother and daughter, ages 58 and 27, share an appreciation for the interdisciplinary learning options at Saint Mary’s. They took quite a few classes together, and are graduating with an unusual combination of credentials:

• Both receive Bachelor of Arts degrees with majors in Religious Studies, plus a minor in Indigenous Studies for Gehue.

• Both receive Bachelor of Commerce degrees; Terris-Gehue’s is a general business degree, while Gehue majored in Human Resource Management and minored in Psychology.

• Both receive Certificates in Atlantic Canada Studies.

• Gehue also receives a Certificate in Human Resource Management.

Academic curiosity and the entrepreneurial spirit run deep in the Gehue family. The variety of programs complement each other as well as the family businesses, which include Lotus Business Solutions, Gehue’s business consulting firm; Ataj, a construction company with her father; and the family’s first retail outlet, Crystal Moon Wellness Boutique, which opened last fall just off Spring Garden Road. A pet supply store and an inclusive clothing shop are in the planning stages, and Gehue also starts a new job soon as Indigenous Student Advisor at Dalhousie University.

“We graduated together once before, in 2017,” notes Terris-Gehue, who was the last person to receive a Bachelor of Education degree from Saint Mary’s that year. Her daughter’s first BA included a major in International Development Studies and minors in English and Sociology. The IDS program sparked Gehue’s interest in equity, diversity and inclusion, which led to her focus on human resources. 

“Realizing the issues that I have as somebody who isn’t visibly diverse, it can be very complicated to navigate,” says Gehue, whose father is from Sipekne’katik. “So for me, venturing into HR is a way to help promote changes within corporate structures, because it can be very tough. Diversity is not just skin deep, it’s a lot of things.”   

During her first degree, Gehue was a member of the Alumni Council and served as president of the Indigenous Student Society. She coordinated the first Mawio’mi on campus, and volunteered on a committee that helped to implement some of the recommendations from the President’s task force on Indigenous students.

Her parents always encouraged her to be open and curious about exploring her culture as well as different paths of spirituality, and studying religion at Saint Mary’s opened up many areas of questioning and critical thinking. Traditional healing is a big focus in the family store, with smudge kits, gemstones, books, dreamcatchers, beadwork and art by local Indigenous and Celtic artists, and much more. The shop also has pop-ups in other locations, and was a popular fixture at the Evergreen Market on the waterfront in the winter.

The mother and daughter encourage new students to be adventurous in choosing their courses, and to reach out to their advisors, career counsellors and other campus supports. If a program isn’t clicking, you don’t have to get stuck on a single path, they agree.

“The wide range of courses at Saint Mary’s is wonderful. You’ve got wiggle room to try things, room to explore different options,” says Terris-Gehue.

They also appreciate the comfort of a smaller university. Terris-Gehue had jitters at first about coming back to school as a mature student but she quickly felt accepted and appreciated. Other students and even a few professors began calling her “Mom”, and she made friends with the mothers of international students, from Thailand to the Caribbean.

The Gehue family connection continues at Saint Mary’s in September, when Terris-Gehue’s 18-year-old son Dakota (and Gehue’s brother) arrives to begin his studies at the Sobey School of Business.

“He says to me, ‘So are you coming back, Mom, and taking some more courses so you can graduate with me too?’ I don’t think so, but who knows?”

---

Plan a degree unique to your interests with the undergraduate program advisors available in Saint Mary’s Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Science and the Sobey School of Business.

What’s in a name? For the Ta’n Weji-sqalia’tiek Mi’kmaw Place Names Project, a Lot

Student researchers Matt Meuse-Dallien, Kachina Sack, and Peter Christmas holding Mi’kmaw place names project poster.

For many people, names give a sense of belonging and community. Beginning fourteen years ago, the Ta'n Weji-sqalia'tiek Mi'kmaw Place Names Digital Atlas and Website Project has expanded into a unique resource with over 800 place names and has featured 30 research positions for Mi'kmaw youth and student researchers over that time.  The project marks another way of bringing to life the profound relationship Mi’kmaq have with the ancient landscape of Mi’kma’ki.  

“The naming of places in Mi'kma'ki was always very logical and descriptive, so our people would know where they were at all times,” recounts the late Elder Gregory Johnson in the short film ‘The Nature of Place Names’ which is featured on the homepage of the Ta’n Weji-sqalia’tiek website.

The project now has a new look and feel, making it easier for users to engage with this unique history and ancient landscape. With help from Membertou Geomatics, the web-based map includes new enhanced sound bites and video clips of Elders sharing their lived experiences on the land. Users can explore numerous Mi’kmaw place names, learn place-name etymology and engage with the rich language of the Mi’kmaq. The new logo design and colour scheme reflect the importance of history and the land, and artworks by Mi’kmaw artists Alan Sylliboy and Gerald Gloade, are featured throughout the site and Elder's videos.

“Our instructions were to build a high-end website that would deliver the data through audio, video and a mapping infrastructure, which was completed in 2015,” states the committees Mi’kmaw Co-chair and Project Director, Tim Bernard of Mi’kmawey Debert Cultural Centre. With this new refresh, the project has expanded and covers more areas than ever before.  

Project Lead, Dr. Trudy Sable of Saint Mary’s University, began to supervise the project when she was approached by Mr. Bernard and Rob Ferguson of Parks Canada. Through community-based focus groups, interviews, surveys, and discussions with numerous experts, the project has been driven by the vision of the Mi’kmaw communities, and the expressed needs of numerous institutional representatives for an inclusive and scholarly resource. 

Student researchers join archaeologist and project mentor Roger Lewis, archaeologist Rob Ferguson, and Project Lead, Trudy Sable on canoe trip to explore the Sɨkɨpne'katik (Shubenacadie) River, a pre-contact, Mi’kmaw traditional travel route.

“I have been deeply privileged to work with the many Elders, Mi’kmaw scholars, leaders, and community members who have contributed their time and knowledge to making the Ta’n Weji-sqalia’tiek website and digital atlas happen,” says Dr. Sable. “Hearing the voices of Mi’kmaq who lived throughout Mi’kma’ki wakes me up to the deeply rooted and powerful reality of their relationship to this landscape.”

“I am grateful for their generosity in sharing their personal histories and knowledge, much of which has been invisible in the rendering of history,” recounts Dr. Sable. “The student researchers inspired me as they learned to research the place names and hear the Elders' stories and then carry this knowledge forward in the new roles they take on in their lives. I feel confident that the website will continue to expand and educate many people in new perspectives and ways of knowing the landscapes we all inhabit.”

A core component of the project has been to ensure the capacity building of Mi'kmaw youth. Since 2010, the project has offered numerous research positions for Mi'kmaw youth and student researchers to learn from Elders, and Mi’kmaw scholars and leaders. In these positions, the students have been trained in map interviewing and protocol, video editing, database set-up and entry, language training, and conducting archival research.  

“During my Atlantic Canadian Studies MA degree at Saint Mary’s University, I was hired to work as a research assistant for the Ta’n Weji-sqalia’tiek: Mi’kmaw Place Names Project. It was an experience I thoroughly enjoyed,” says Raymond Sewell, previously a student researcher for the project, now an assistant professor at Saint Mary’s.  

“Dr. Trudy Sable, Dr. Bernie Francis, and Roger Lewis taught me valuable research skills. I worked with other students on this project that I now count as friends, each of us working in different fields. We all shared a fulfilling work experience. We were able to meet and interview L’nu Elders, travel to various sites, have canoe excursions, and work with various organizations like the Nova Scotia Museum,” recounts Mr. Sewell. “I had a great time learning place-name etymology. I was responsible for entering different orthographies into the database, and that engagement with my language was an excellent experience. I am now an English professor, and I use the website in my class to teach students the importance of land and language.” 

Both the website and digital atlas have become integral to developing educational programming, enhancing Mi'kmaw tourism, and promoting cultural awareness about the Mi'kmaq.

“The Ta’n Weji-sqalia’tiek digital atlas and website is an essential resource for our work in archaeological and cultural landscape studies,” says Dr. Jonathon Fowler, archaeologist and professor in the Anthropology department at Saint Mary’s. “I use it regularly in my research and teaching, and, truth be told, it is so interesting I often explore it just for fun. It contains incredible insights and not a few surprises.” 

Since 2015, the Mi’kmawey Debert Cultural Centre has taken on the responsibility of stewarding and caring for the data, which is safely stored at the Membertou Datacentre, and overseeing the transfer of the project from SMU to the Nation. With help from Membertou Geomatics, the web-based map has undergone a functionality refresh making it easier for users to explore the significant history of the Mi’kmaq and the unique landscape of Mi’kma’ki.  

“Our engagement within our Mi’kmaw communities in 2007-08 was extensive and at that time we were told, very clearly, to go deep and dig down and collect this vast but quickly disappearing knowledge from this generation of Elders that still carry the language and still hold the knowledge,” says Mr. Bernard. “We’re very fortunate to have built this relationship with SMU and Dr. Sable. They understood that the information and data needed to be protected and retained by the Nation, for the Nation.”  

Initiated in 2008 by the Mi'kmaq - Nova Scotia - Canada Tripartite Forum, Culture and Heritage Committee, the project grew to include numerous other partners and funders. There has been close to $1M invested to protect and share this data through the creation of the Ta’n Weji-sqalia’tiek website and digital atlas.  

To learn more about this ongoing project and explore the new look and feel of the map and site, visit Ta’n Weji-sqalia’tiek Mi’kmaw Place Names Digital Atlas.

Diversity in the Entrepreneurial World

The Saint Mary's University Entrepreneurship Centre Ignition Program provides students with an opportunity to learn from a diverse panel of mentors in the entrepreneurial world, allowing students a chance to see themselves as successful entrepreneurs. The 10-week program also provides students with access to training, resources and entrepreneurial ecosystems.

Starting February 14, the Ignition Program will host a series of Black and Indigenous entrepreneurship events in their 10-week program. These events will highlight six local entrepreneur panellists over two days to share their real stories, challenges, and successes with aspiring entrepreneurs.

"Seeing yourself through these entrepreneur speakers is so important for our students," says Adam Khamis BComm'21, SMUEC Project Manager. "Nova Scotia is rich in diversity, and so is Saint Mary's. It's only right that our speakers represent that."

The Ignition Program hosted over 50 speaker series to more than 1,300 post-secondary students this past year. Student feedback has shown that including diversity in speaker experiences and business growth stages when learning about entrepreneurship helps them visualize themselves as successful entrepreneurs.

"I have learned a great deal from the various sessions that I have attended, and it's amazing to see the many ways in which these lessons apply to our everyday lives," says Sidney Nuwahereza, Saint Mary's student.

The Ignition program has a rolling registration, and students are encouraged to drop into relevant topics.

Black Entrepreneurship Panel

February 14, 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. AST

Join SMUEC in hosting three incredible Black female entrepreneurs, Precious Octavious, Holly Adams and Tiffani Young. Listen to their unique entrepreneurial stories and how their resiliency and perseverance helped navigate a challenging career. Learn more.

Indigenous Entrepreneurship Panel

February 16, 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. AST

Listen to the stories of Indigenous entrepreneurs Mariah Battiste and Elora Gehue, and the challenges and stigmas of entrepreneurship they’ve experienced throughout their careers. Learn more.

School of Business Impact Speaker Series launches with ‘Elevating Indigenous Businesses’ event

The recent event on campus regarding Elevating Indigenous Businesses was a celebration and exposition of Indigenous culture and business teachings. The inaugural event in the Sobey School of Business Impact Speaker Series saw faculty, staff, students and community members in attendance to hear from the panelists led by moderator Cassandra Dorrington (BComm'81, EMBA'00). 

The Premier of Nova Scotia, Tim Houston (BComm'92), a guest speaker, noted that he intends to come to campus more often. President Rob Summerby-Murray spoke about the importance of this and other ongoing initiatives that allow the university to engage with Indigenous communities, strengthen intercultural research and curriculum, and respond to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action.

Emceed by Kyle Cook, VP Advocacy, SMUSA, the event featured special guests such as Ian Smith, CEO of Clearwater Seafoods LP, and Heather DeBlois (BComm'96), Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Sobeys Inc. The event featured special cultural elements, presented by Indigenous Elder, Cathy Martin, and drumming and dancing from Garett Gloade, Patience Sylliboy from Millbrook First Nation, Jingle Dress and expert Indigenous Business owner and panelist of Jesse Benjamin of Eskasoni Mi'kmaw Nation, Fancy Shawl. In addition to Jesse Benjamin, the panelists also included Michael Maracle-Polak (BComm'14), entrepreneur, and Chef Stephane Levac.

Event recording

Sounds of Welcome, Community and Reconciliation

Robert Summerby-Murray, President and Vice-Chancellor of Saint Mary’s University, and Kyle Cook, Vice-President Advocacy for the Saint Mary’s University’s Student Association (SMUSA).

An important form of Indigenous cultural expression is becoming a mainstay at Saint Mary’s University. Through a partnership with the Saint Mary’s University’s Student Association (SMUSA), a community drum will become a permanent part of the university’s campus, events, and ceremonies, reinforcing the collective commitment to Truth and Reconciliation.

The tugamatesg (drum) is an instrument that is alive and facilitates cultural expression. It is the heartbeat that offers comfort and the thundering sound that inspires people. This large drum is referred to as a teaching drum by Elders, a true pedagogical instrument that will be featured during Mawio’mi, convocations, ceremonies and other university events.

“Coming on the heels of Mi’kmaq History Month is the perfect time to commence this initiative,” says Kyle Cook, Vice-President Advocacy for SMUSA. “This is a time for community to come together to embrace and celebrate Indigeneity. The community drum will provide the platform to foster a sense of welcome, community, and reconciliation.”

The community drum initiative is an opportunity for Indigenous cultures to be more visible on campus, increase the accessibility of Indigenous lessons, and provide a greater sense of welcoming for current and future Indigenous students. The drum will support various teachings and land-based learning opportunities by Indigenous professors, SMUSA, and community allies of Saint Mary’s.

“The community drum initiative is an important opportunity to reflect on how we implement our commitment to reconciliation and create a greater engagement with

Indigenous culture at Saint Mary’s,” says Robert Summerby-Murray, President and Vice-Chancellor. “The drum will be a part of important university milestones, ceremonies and convocations, reminding all of us that we walk the path to truth and reconciliation together, throughout the year.”

Ryan Francis Returns for Two-Year Indigenous Research Fellowship at Saint Mary’s

Ryan Francis

A familiar face to the Saint Mary's University community is back to continue working on projects that foster the potential of sport and recreation to bring people together for intercultural understanding.

Ryan Francis, the university’s first Indigenous Visiting Fellow, recently returned for a two-year fellowship with the Faculty of Arts and the Centre for the Study of Sport and Health (CSSH). His first fellowship was  a four-month term from January to April 2020, coinciding with the onset of the global pandemic.

“A lot of our plans and programs involved people gathering and coming together, so it was very challenging to do that,” says Francis. “We highlighted in the previous fellowship that there is a lot of work that can be done. With a longer runway, we’ll be able to implement a lot more of those meaningful opportunities for the university community.” 

Part of the fellowship includes working with Saint Mary’s and organizers of the North American Indigenous Games, postponed in 2020 but now scheduled to take place July 15-23, 2023 in several locations in Kjipuktuk (Halifax) and Millbrook First Nation. NAIG 2023 will include competitions in 16 sports, bringing together 3,000 local volunteers with more than 5,000 athletes, coaches and team staff from 756 Indigenous Nations.

“SMU’s commitment to being a part of the Games, through facility use and accommodations, is really significant,” says Francis. “It will be really neat to think about how we can play a role, and factor in how to support the participants coming to campus, and make this environment feel especially welcoming to them.”

One idea already in development is the creation of “Brave Spaces” – spaces on campus where athletes and attendees can gather to share and learn more about each other’s cultures, since the Indigenous athletes will be attending from across Turtle Island.

During his first fellowship in 2020, Ryan was also a key player in the university’s inaugural Red Tape Game, working with Athletics and Recreation and the men’s Huskies hockey team. The growing movement across Canada and the U.S. aims to promote inclusion in ice hockey. The initiative was started and inspired by Logan Prosper of Whycocomagh First Nation – now an Arts student at Saint Mary’s – and his father Phillip, to create awareness of racism in hockey and encourage players to take responsibility for combatting racism. SMU’s second Red Tape Game is in the planning stages for this winter. Francis and Dr. Cheryl MacDonald, Associate Director of Outreach for the CSSH, hope to build on the idea and expand it to other teams.

“Ryan has been such a wonderful contributor to the Centre,” says Dr. MacDonald, noting he has provided guest lectures in the Health, Wellness and Sport in Society program, and participated in the international Hockey Conference hosted by the Centre.

“The Centre’s mandate is very much to facilitate and disseminate research on sport and health,” she adds. “We’re also committed to community outreach and interdisciplinary approaches. I think what we are creating here is meaningful opportunities to combine research and education with community.”

The fellowship builds on Saint Mary’s ongoing initiatives to engage with Indigenous communities, strengthen intercultural research and curriculum, and respond to the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action.

Francis grew up in Cole Harbour and is a member of Acadia First Nation. He is currently the Manager of Provincial Outreach & Coordination for the Nova Scotia Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage, in its Communities, Sport, and Recreation Division. He has a Master of Physical Education degree from Memorial University, and majored in sport management for his Bachelor of Science degree at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. Follow him on Twitter at @RyanFrancis58.     

Saint Mary’s University Anthropologist Investigates Former Shubenacadie Residential School Site

Dr. Jonathan Fowler.

An investigation of the former Shubenacadie Residential school site grounds has begun as the result of a partnership between Sipekne'katik First Nation and Saint Mary's University. 

"This has been top of mind for Sipekne'katik for many years and the tragic discovery in Kamloops brings a renewed sense of urgency to our work," says Sipekne'katik First Nation Chief Mike Sack.

The Sipekne'katik Council and management and Sipekne'katik Grand Council have been working directly in recent years with Dr. Jonathan Fowler, an Associate Professor with Saint Mary's University’s Anthropology Department. Dr. Fowler is one of the country's leading researchers in archaeological geophysics and remote sensing. His investigation on the former Shubenacadie Residential school grounds is to determine if there is any burial evidence on site. Using several techniques, including ground-penetrating radar (GPR) Dr. Fowler is working directly with community member and Mi'kmaq cultural heritage curator for the Nova Scotia Museum, Roger Lewis as a co-investigator. 

"This urgent and essential work must be undertaken thoroughly and to the highest standard," says Dr. Fowler. "We will examine the site carefully and with the most powerful technologies available." 

Dr. Fowler's GPR research has successfully mapped burials associated with the 1873 sinking of the SS Atlantic and identified nearly 300 unmarked graves in the pre-Deportation Acadian cemetery at Grand-Pré National Historic Site of Canada.    

New Partnership Supporting BIPOC Youth in Computer Science, Technology, Leadership and Sustainable Development

Alfred Burgesson, Founder at Tribe Network and Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray, President of Saint Mary’s University.
Photo Credit: Ian Selig

A new province-wide program available to youth ages 15 to 18 in Nova Scotia who identify as Black, Indigenous and People of Colour and are interested in developing skills in computer science and technology, leadership, and sustainable development has launched.   

"The Brilliant Creators Fellowship offers a unique opportunity for BIPOC youth to develop new skills while practicing creativity, innovation, leadership, and learning with technology. We are committed to working with youth and empowering them to be creators of the world they want to live in," said Alfred Burgesson, Founder at Tribe Network.  

The 15 participants in the Brilliant Creators Fellowship are engaged in regular workshops, events, team-focused projects, and hands-on, experiential learning opportunities. Participants will develop their interpersonal skills and competencies in digital literacy, communication, sustainable development while also developing peer-to-peer networks. In addition to skill development, participants will also gain access to community leaders and industry mentors. The Saint Mary's University Entrepreneurship Centre will support youth entrepreneurship skill development throughout the initiative.   

"Saint Mary's University is committed to a world without limits. The Brilliant Creators Fellowship helps us to support and reduce barriers facing BIPOC youth, which is an important part of achieving that goal," says Saint Mary's University President Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray. "We are proud to partner with Tribe Network and Brilliant Labs on this project."   

"We recognize the importance of championing diversity across all fields of research, work and study," says President Summerby-Murray. "That is why we are offering every student who finishes this program a $12,000 scholarship over four years to study computer science or business at Saint Mary's University."    

In the first year of the program, participants include youth from Halifax, Dartmouth, Lower Sackville, Fall River and Membertou First Nation. 

Saint Mary’s University is pleased to partner with Tribe Network, to support the participants, and to further the impact of the Brilliant Creators Fellowship for years to come.    

SMU Research Partnership Rewriting History of Pre-Contact North American Copper Trade

Cape d’Or and the surrounding areas are where much of the copper examined for this research originated. (Photo - Communications Nova Scotia)

A Saint Mary's University research partnership with the Nova Scotia Museum has uncovered evidence that may rewrite North American understanding of the pre-contact trade of copper across the continent.

The lead Saint Mary's researcher on this project, Dr. Jacob Hanley, is a geologist who studies ore deposits and is a member of Algonquins of Greater Golden Lake First Nation in Ontario, Canada. After an exciting discussion with a colleague regarding prehistory in Atlantic Canada, Dr. Hanley began to take an interest in where the Indigenous people of Atlantic Canada sourced their pre-contact metals.

"One of the most important metals to the Indigenous population of North America was copper. It was an essential material for toolmaking and working that also held a spiritual significance," says Hanley. "The prevailing understanding of copper in North America during the Late Archaic Period to Early Woodland Period, that is to say, is 4,500 years ago to 500 A.D, is that the copper originated from deposits from Lake Superior, the Lake Superior Basin, and Keweenaw Peninsula in Michigan. Our findings strongly suggest this is not the case and that a site in the Bay of Fundy played a much bigger role in history."

The lead Nova Scotia Museum researcher is Dr. Katie Cottreau-Robins, Curator of Archaeology. Additional project collaborators include Roger Lewis, Curator of Mi'kmaq Cultural Heritage, Nova Scotia Museum, and the New Brunswick Archaeological Services Branch. The project itself would not have been possible without the permission and participation of the Metepenagiag First Nation and Mainland Mi’kmaq Grand Council members who allowed the team to examine significant cultural artifacts.

"This copper comes from Cape d'Or, located in the Bay of Fundy, a place of extreme significance in terms of the history of Mi'kma'ki," says Lewis. "To get to these outcrops, you can only approach from the water or climb down the cliffs. We hope to support more research to examine whether the act of gathering the copper itself may have had an additional cultural significance due to the danger and the level of skill required to gather it successfully."

Unlike traditional methods of analyzing artifacts, the team uses a new method usually reserved for finding ore deposits for mining purposes. This new to archeology method is non-invasive and more accurately reads the chemical make-up of the copper while leaving the artifacts completely intact.

"Our data suggests that Cape d'Or and the Bay of Fundy was the main source of copper for the Mi'kmaq people and beyond," says Cottreau-Robins. "All the artifacts we have examined, and initially described as having come from the Lake Superior region, actually originated in the Bay of Fundy. This suggests that much of the copper artifact collection in the northeastern region, believed to have come from the Lake Superior area, may have an Atlantic origin. The implications of this are huge, as it means reshaping our understanding of pre-contact trade across Atlantic Canada, Eastern Canada and the Eastern United States and re-examining the role copper played cultural in the history of Atlantic Canada's Indigenous peoples."

This project recognizes the importance of the artifacts they are working with to the Metepenagiag First Nation and have ensured that they are analyzed in New Brunswick, so they remain in their province of origin and can be returned swiftly.

"Saint Mary's University takes pride in doing world-class research that creates new knowledge and disseminates it to the world," says Dr. Malcolm Butler, Vice-President, Academic and Research. "The work of Dr. Jacob Hanley and his team is an exemplar of this commitment and takes community-based research collaboration to a new level. We are proud to be a part of this collaboration across provinces and with the Metepenagiag First Nation."

Hanley and Cottreau-Robins have written about their research findings in a chapter of the upcoming anthology Far Northeast 3000BP to Contact, which can be found here.

SMU welcomes Ryan Francis as first Indigenous Visiting Fellow

Ryan Francis in the Homburg Centre

Ryan Francis has only been on campus for a couple of weeks and already he’s bringing new ways of thinking to Saint Mary’s, as the university’s first Indigenous Visiting Fellow. Starting with the Red Tape Game on January 22 in the Dauphinee Centre, between the men’s Huskies hockey team and the Acadia Axemen. The game aims to promote inclusion in ice hockey, with a ceremonial puck drop, Mi’kmaw flag raising and a special focus on Indigenous athletes and reconciliation themes.

Sport can be a unifying force and a meaningful way to connect with culture, says Francis, who grew up in Cole Harbour and is a member of the Acadia First Nation. 

“For me, getting involved with the National Aboriginal Hockey Championships really connected me with my culture. I was always aware of my culture but growing up off reserve, I had that experience of sport really helping to connect me to my culture,” he says.

He played on Team Atlantic in the national championships in 2012 and has remained involved in various volunteer coaching capacities – currently as Head Coach for the women’s Team Atlantic program.

Even before his four-month fellowship began with the Faculty of Arts on January 1, Francis was working with Athletics & Recreation and the Centre for the Study of Sport and Health to organize the Red Tape Game. He’s also a key player as Saint Mary’s gears up to be one of the venues for the 2020 North American Indigenous Games, to be held in Kjipuktuk (Halifax) and Millbrook First Nation for the first time. The event is expected to bring more than 5,000 participants to Mi’kmaki this summer, with many staying and competing on campus.

Francis was an organizer for the 2019 Atlantic Indigenous Games, which took place at Saint Mary’s and included educational sessions along with the sport competitions. “It was really cool to see the opportunity that campus life gave to the participants,” he recalls. “We hosted some sessions in the McNally Auditorium and a few times as the kids walked into the space, they said ‘Oh, it’s just like the movies!’ They were able to experience what university was like and they got to imagine themselves in that setting. Not a lot of them had that opportunity before, so it was pretty special.”

He holds a Master of Physical Education degree from Memorial University, and a Bachelor of Science from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, with a major in sport management and minor in sport outreach. Now working as a Sport Consultant within the Communities, Sport, and Recreation Division of the Nova Scotia Department of Communities, Culture & Heritage, Francis coordinates education sessions with sport and recreation organizations across the province. He also leads the division’s Sport Hosting Program and initiatives on sport concussions, while supporting the government’s gender equity and Indigenous sport files. Previously, he worked with Mi’kmaw Kina’matnewey, the Aboriginal Sport Circle, and in several roles with Sport Nova Scotia.

His fellowship runs through April 30. The new position builds on Saint Mary’s ongoing initiatives to engage with Indigenous communities, strengthen intercultural research and curriculum, and respond to the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and our own university task force. Francis applied because he felt he could assist in making the academic environment a more welcoming place for Indigenous students, and he’s also intrigued by the research dynamic between athletics and academics. 

“The Faculty of Arts was open to that and encouraged that. Recognizing the potential of sport and recreation in bringing people together and providing those intercultural lessons,” he says.

For his research, Francis is focusing on Indigenous youth and sport, with links to the Certificate in Health, Wellness, and Sport in Society. He is also coordinating the delivery of Indigenous coaching modules for on and off campus. These courses will cover such topics as dealing with racism in sport, and holistic approaches to coaching. Stay tuned for news about more upcoming events, projects and opportunities for discussion, and follow him on Twitter at @RyanFrancis58.    

Two Planks and a Passion Theatre coming to The Oaks (Saturday, Oct. 26)

Elapultiek (ehl-ah-bool-dee-egg) - "we are looking towards" - marks the first time Two Planks and a Passion Theatre commissioned an Indigenous playwright from Nova Scotia to create a new work for the company. The show was a great success during the 2018 summer season and returned this year for two special fireside shows and a provincial tour that reaches Saint Mary's for a performance on October 26.  

Playwright shalan joudry is an oral storyteller, hand-drum singer and poet the traditional district of Kespukwitk (southwest Nova Scotia). Following years of raising children, performing, writing and ecology work, shalan now lives and works in her community of Bear River First Nation, sharing messages of reconnecting to both land and culture.   

“We are thrilled to bring shalan’s play to a broader audience. The response to our first production in 2018 was overwhelmingly positive -- the play has been so important to so many people, and it is clear that we need to bring this story to as many Nova Scotians as possible,” says Artistic Director Ken Schwartz. It's presented at Saint Mary's by the Faculty of Arts, the Faculty of Science, and Student Affairs & Services.

Find out more about the play at www.artscentre.ca/elapultiek.html.