Nova Scotians celebrate Nora Bernard on Heritage Day

Heritage Day in Nova Scotia honours late Mi'kmaq activist Nora Bernard.

Monday is Heritage Day in Nova Scotia and John Paul with the Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nations says it’s a time to reflect on the province’s history and those who contributed to it.

“It demonstrates and shows people in Nova Scotia, people that contributed greatly to the province and future of the province and overcame the boundaries and challenges to do it anyway, “says Paul.

This year’s honouree is Nora Bernard, a Mi’kmaw activist who was born in 1935 at Millbrook First Nation, N.S. She founded the Shubenacadie Indian Residential School Association and in 1995 she launched a class action lawsuit against the Government of Canada that eventually led to compensation for survivors across the country.

Her niece Justine Maloney says she will always share her aunt’s story.

“It was those stories that she shared with us that she was always advocating for her younger siblings, is advocating for the younger students in residential schools, so it seems fitting that she is recognized that her role in all of this she is still advocating and she is still fighting for everyone,” says Malony.

Bernard died in 2007.

“I think her biggest legacy is an advocate, an advocate as a residential school survivor, an upright standing citizen in the community of Millbrook and well known across all the communities of the Mi’kmaw. It’s just that she showed the importance and value of what family was to everybody and it demonstrated clearly that her values were consistent with our Mi’kmaw traditions and our Mi’kmaw values and it’s important that our values are recognized as an important part of the legacy of Nova Scotia,” says Paul.

“Many of her nieces and nephews, we already knew how protective she was of us, how much of an advocate she was for her family and the underdog so to speak. It’s really nice to see her get an honour throughout history and be put in the history books,” says Maloney.

Bad weather postponed several events to honour Bernard on Monday, but history was on display at many Nova Scotia museums that offered free admission.

“Traditionally Heritage Day is our busiest day of the year. It’s a chance for people to get out and see our new exhibits. A chance to spend time together as families or if they have friends visiting. And often, I think it’s a time for them to explore their own heritage, whether it’s here at our museum or museums around the province,” says Jeff Gray, manager of the Museum of Natural History.

Gray says this year is significant to them as they create a new Mi’kmaw exhibit.

“We are in the process of working on a new Mi’kmaw exhibit with the community that will celebrate the Mi’kmaw people and for this year to also shed light on important Mi’kmaw elders. I think it’s a wonderful opportunity, ”says Gray.

Many Maritimers were also grateful for the day off to spend together.

“We think of it as family day so we can be together as a family and go do things together so it’s great to have the extra time to do that,” says Sarah Jones, a Halifax resident.

“Day off for us today and we were like why we don’t just go to the museum, like free entry, have some fun, we have had a really great time,” says Serena Benoit, a Halifax resident.

“Great to have some extra time to spend with the family, we are family friends so it’s nice to be able to get together,” says Erin O’Rourke, a Halifax resident.

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