M’CHIGEENG—M’Chigeeng First Nation elder Jean Debassige can remember the days not so long ago when Indigenous people were not able to celebrate their culture and history as they can now on National Indigenous Peoples Day.
“Today we celebrate the culture, heritage, resilience and diversity of our people,” Ms. Debassige told the many people who gathered for the National Indigenous Peoples Day celebration at the M’Chigeeng powwow grounds on June 21. “We also celebrate that this is the longest day of the year, and everything is now going forward into the summer.”
“We are very grateful for this day, and that those of us have lived long enough that we have seen things change from the days of residential schools,” said Ms. Debassige. “In the old days there was nothing allowed no eagle staff, drum or dancing. We were not allowed to speak our language, but fortunately we have preserved our language.”
“Today is a celebration of our resilience as Anishinabek persons. We can move forward, healthy and happy to be able to have a day like this,” said Ms. Debassige
While attending residential school when she was young Ms. Debassige explained, “we were not allowed to use our Ojibway language in the classrooms. If we did, we got a three-foot-long strap with holes in it that ripped up our skin.”
Ms. Debassige told the story of her husband, fellow elder Justin who while in residential school, “Was playing baseball while in Grade 1 at the school. He hit a ball backward and it broke a window in the school. He was forced to put on a dunce hat and stand at the front of the class, in front of the rest of the students.”
“But now, fortunately, we are able to teach and speak our language and we have arrived at the time and place where we are not made to feel ashamed of who we are or beaten for using our language, culture,” said Ms. Debassige.
Ms. Debassige made her remarks as part of the prayer she delivered at the mini powwow held at the M’Chigeeng powwow grounds on June 21. Earlier in the day a sunrise/pipe ceremony was held in the community.
The powwow drew a good crowd of participants and interested persons. Master of ceremonies was Gregoir Jacko. The powwow featured the M’Chigeeng drum group Red River, with Justin Debassige as head veteran and he and his wife Jean as the head elder dancers. Head dancers were Shannon Manitowabi and Myles Sutherland. The eagle staff carries were Steven and Andrew Debassige.
There were several information booths set up, with Noojmowin Teg Health Centre running a booth and a table where delicious lemonade and other cool drinks were served. Other events held through the day included storytelling and a medicine walk. The M’Chigeeng First Nation fire department parked their pumper truck at one end of the powwow grounds property and put the water hose on high in the air to give kids of all age the chance to get wet and cool off in the scorching heat.
