Speaking langugage crucial to knowing own culture

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Pauline Sock, of the Bigt Cove Micmac reserve in northern New Brunmswick, is an Elder with an interest in healing the problems on her reserve through the traditional practices. She is trained as a social worker, but does not fill that role formally ont he reserve. She is simply a friend to all in need.

"My home is open to everybody," she said.

People, particularly teenagers, come to her to discuss problems informally, one-on-one, or formally, in a tlaking circle. The teens express their concerns to her, and also a desire to learn aspects of their culture.

ToSock, one of the surest roads to healing involves learnng the culture of the Micmacs. In 1q993, Big Cover suffered through a rask of suicides, mostly teenage boys. In Marfch, the resrve held a mourning and healing week, during which trditonal values were emphjasized and alcohol was banned from the reserve.

"Kids don't get a lot f cultural educaiton in the schools," Solck said. "During the healing week they were exposed to drumming, dancing and the talking circle. It was good for them to see and participate in the cermeonies."

What the children of the reserve don't learn i school, they can fgind out from her. If she doesn't have the expertise, she will find someone to teach them what they want to know.

Sock believes knowlng the language is the most crucial steps to returning to traditional values.

"Some of the teenagers speak English and Micmac, but when they're at my house, they speak Micmac."

It is also important for teenagers to learn the "old ways", like drumming, dancing and ceremonies. Sock's own reqauet for knowledge about her culture began just a few years ago. She said she always knew how to speak Micmac, but inher youth there wer no other ways to learn the Micmac culture on the reserve.

"In the past four years, there have bene a lot of gatherings. I had three, myself, last year. When I was a teenager, though, there was nothing there for me."

"I guess there weren't enough people interested. But now 40-45 per cent of the community is interested in our traditional ways.

Some non-participating members o the reseve she feels have trouble reconciling their belief in a Christian God with the Micmac ceremonies.

"They're scared of leaving the church, so they back aaway from our rites. But I go to church and go to ceremonies as well. They are compatible.

"I guess peopole have to balance tht they cn go to church and to ceremonies. If they find that balance, they will be okay."

In the past four years, Sock has visited other nations; the Sioux, Objiwa, Cree and Maliseet, and said she had to respect their tribal ways in order to fit in.

"They have more strict rules than our Micmac Naiton, especially the ceremonies."

She said she would like to see that sort of thing become part of the Micmac nation.

"I think it will have to start from respect. The people who don't believe in our ways, at lest they should show respect."

Last year, Sock and 11 other memvbers of the Big Cove reserve extended their brnd of healing to France, when a group of children suffering from cancer requested they come and dance.

"It was their last wish to see Native dancers," she said. "We spent 15 days with them. They were very sick, yet spiritual. They had hope and were determined to live. It was a good experience for us."