Mi’kmaq crafter helping to reclaim what was once thought lost

By Rosemary Godin, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Cape Breton Post The proliferation of skilled Mi’kmaw art forms available all over Unama’ki in the last few years has not just “sprung up” on its own. Creative and concerned L’nu (the people) are taking back their traditional livelihoods that were nearly wiped out during a dark period in Canada’s history of the residential school system, which the United Nations refers to as genocidal. Whycocomagh First Nation member Tina Bernard knows the history and the struggle Indigenous people have had maintaining their culture ever since colonization came to Unama’ki (Cape Breton). She is the Mi’kmaw craft education co-ordinator with the Cape Breton Centre for Craft and Design. Her role is to implement educational programming based on Mi’kmaq culture, history and traditions. For the…

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