THE WOLASTOQEWIYIK TRAIL BLAZERS St. Mary’s First Nation

A MODEL FOR HOLISTIC LIVING

AS RESPECT FOR INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE GROWS, SO TOO DOES THE AWARENESS THAT ITS TEACHINGS CAN BENEFIT COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE PROVINCE.

For boys like Bryce and John—pictured here—sweats and drum circles have become an important part of their lives, thanks in large part to the concerted efforts of community leaders like Chris Brooks. Their faces light up at the prospect of spending time at the lodge, a place where the wisdom of the past waits for their generation to carry it into the future.

The sense of anticipation they share is, for Brooks, a sign of good things to come. A Tribal Elder and Program Facilitator, Brooks tells us his goal is to prepare the youth in his community for the challenges and opportunities that lay ahead.

“As they grow and walk their life journey, our goal as teachers is to watch them blossom into adulthood ready and prepared for what comes their way in life.” -Chris Brooks

The growing sense of self worth that he sees in others, Brooks believes, is a result of their immersion into the traditional practices they stand to inherit. With the participation in drum circles and sweats on the rise, the renewed vitality of Maliseet culture is easy to see, as is the sense of pride its beliefs engender.

The heartbeat of a thriving culture.

“You can feel the energy,” Brooks says of the gatherings in his community. It’s a vitality, he adds, that spans the generations and that permeates all forms of life.

“In our culture,” Brooks explains, “everything’s connected. We’re connected. The animals are connected, the plants—everything living is connected.”

As respect for such teachings grow, so too does the awareness that Indigenous knowledge can benefit communities across the province. For this very reason, Twenty-two First Nation Leaders were invited to participate in focus groups during the early planning stages of the NB PLAYBOOK. Evident from the start was the need to see Indigenous culture represented throughout as a model for holistic living.

NEKON-ONT TEMHUWET. BE A CHAMPION.

We caught up with the Wolastoqewiyik Trail Blazers this past summer; it was a real privilege to watch them perform. Enjoy!

Saint Marys, NB, Canada

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