'A first' at St Mary's First Nation: traditional welcome for new chief and council

On a hot, humid day on the banks ofwhat they know as theWolastoq River, hundreds gathered to celebrate the inauguration of the new chief and council of St. Mary's First Nation in a traditionalWolastoqiyik ceremony.

ChiefAllan (Chicky) Polchies Jr., whounseated incumbent Candice Paul on June 14, wassworn in with a dozen new band councillors at the Old Reserve witha pipe ceremony, music, dancing, feasting, and speeches in Wolastoqiyikand English.

"It is done to connect with our ancestors, our medicines," said Polchies. "Making sure that our culture is still sustained. Making sure that we are holding our part as stewards of the land."

The CBC's Julia Wright was there and took these photos.

The excitement of the crowdwasn't the only electricity in the air by the river in Fredericton on Sunday. Chief Polchies and council led a traditional Snake Dance, in which dancers move in line,coiling and uncoiling, witheveryone present joining in.

"We want our ancestors bones to feel our feet, and know ourpresence," said Imelda Perley.

Despite looming dark clouds over the St. John River, the weather held out for the outdoor ceremony in whichhundreds of members of the First Nation participated.

Polchiesleads the danceaccompanied by his uncle,RokWisemanand eldersMaggie Brooks,ImeldaPerley and Chris Brooks.

Sometimes,Perleysaid, people "look at our culture and say things that are insensitive, like, 'Oh, they're just like us, they have gas bars and they have grocery stores and they dress like us.'

"What people forget [are]these types of ceremonies that we do that aren't like every other ceremony."

ImeldaPerley, who brought the ceremony with the assistance of elder Chris Brooks.

"I knew it was going to be a good day when we were here at 5:30 this morning to do ceremony," saidPerley.

"When I got here, the sacred fire was already lit and and eagle was soaring around. ... I'm really excited."

The women ofPokuhulakonWitsehkehsu(Sisters of the Drum) open the ceremony with a performance of the song All My People.

The traditional gatheringmarked the beginning of a new era in the First Nation, said elderOpolahsomuwehs, or Moon of the Whirling Wind, known in English as ImeldaPerley. Itwas, she said, the first time in living memory such a ceremony had been conducted at St. Mary's.

"I am expecting everyone to talk about this, so that it becomes wisdom, instead of a memory that might be faint in a few day,"she said.

The men's drum group welcomed the community as they arrived at the inauguration.

"That goosebump feeling that we get when the language is being said, our songs are being sung, and the drum beat is resonating with the crowd wasunbelievably powerful," said Polchies.

Chief (Sakom) Polchies stands barefoot on the podium during thetraditional blessing,beside a bowl of sacred tobacco, water from theWolastoqRiver, and cedar branches.

"I wanted him to start his position in humility," Perley said."This is our traditional territory here. We were barefoot here. Any time a child is bornand they stand up themselves for the first time, we always start them on our Earth Mother barefoot so that our Earth Mother will feel the essence of that child's bare feet."

"You wait until the time that your duty begins, and then the moccasins are put on you."

Elders Imelda Perleyand Chris Brooks bless each of the new councillorsand the chief with a pipe, which is "symbolic of the balance between male and female," Perley said.

Because Polchies istwo-spirited, she said, "I wanted to make sure that he saw a representation of what makes him so special as a two-spirited person."

"There's a male essence of him being celebrated, and a female essence. That's why we have two pipe-carriers."

Polchies's father, Allan PolchiesSr.,crowns his sonwith a traditional Wolastoqiyikeagle feather and birch bark headdress.

The birch barkis a reminder to"stand and be rooted," Imelda Perley said, to "face the storm of the day, and the storms of tomorrow." Etched with adouble-curve motif, it symbolizes the soul's birth in, and eventual return to, the spirit world.

"The wisdom I carry on the headdress will guide me to the wisdom that is expected of me," she said."

G. Wayne Brooks and Caden Brooks intraditional Wolastoqiyikdress.

Wayne, Kim, Cody andCaden Brooksare traditional artisans who presented Polchies with the handcrafted eagle feather and birch bark headdress.

"A community is made up of people and the people are the most important entity of St Mary's," said newly sworn-in councillor Monty Paul.

To strengthen the community of St. Mary's, he said, "we need to start right from the ground up from the youth up to the seniors."

Elder Maggie Paul brought greetings in Wolastoqiyik and English andand performedHumble Song,which includes the lyrics:

We gotta humble ourselves in the eyes of our Creator

We gotta bend down low

We gotta humble ourselves in the eyes of our Creator

We gotta know what he knows

A new council membersigns thepledge of office, whichPerleycalled "a spiritual promise."

The duties of the chief and council, according to the pledge, include speaking from their heartson behalf of their people,respecting theirduty, promoting ashared vision, and preserving the traditional language.

Dozens of volunteers ranging in age from children to seniors pitched in to serve the members of St. Mary's First Nation a lobster feastwith a side of melted butter and salads.

"I feel fantastic,"Polchiessaid."I feel the gifts from theWolastoqRiver. I feel the gifts and joy from our ancestors that are here with us at the Old Reserve."

"I feel pride from the community members, and I feel loved by my family, my friends, my neighbours, and of course all of creation."

A festive holidaydecor and atmosphere prevailed on Sunday.

"I've been waiting for this day since election time," said new councillor Monty Paul."It's been a long, long wait for this almost like that Christmas feeling."

Newly elected councillor Evan Sacobiesaid participating in the ceremony was a "an honour and a privilege."

"It shows our youth more about the knowledge keepers," he said. "It's a wonderful thing when we can implement our traditions."

Monty Paul, 31 the youngest of the new councillors and his eight-year-old daughter, Jordyn. Paul, who campaigned on a platform that prioritized economic development, said he's excited to get people in the community to work.

"It was really cool to see the big crown thing with the feathers," said Jordan,"and that Daddy had to be up in front of 100 people. I liked when Chicky got crowned with the big feather thing, and when we did the Snake Dance."

St. Mary's First Nationis proud to "live in the 21stcentury," said Polchies, with councillorsTony Gabriel, Montgomery Paul, Steven Meuse, Leonard Brooks, EvanSacobie, Barb Brown, Heather Currie, MelanieBerube, JudyFullarton, SuzanneMccoy, ShelleyPolchies, PennyPolchies

"We are a diverse community. As an LGTBQ, two-spirited individual I am extremely proud of opening the envelope and taking it to the next level.

"No matter who or what you are, you can achieve. Just dream for it. Work for it, and believe in it."