'Glorious day': Hundreds gather in Lennox Island to celebrate Mi'kmaw culture

It's been about two years since Lennox Island First Nation has been able to hold its annual gathering because of the pandemic.

But more than200 Islanders joined together on a hot day for the 20thannual Lennox Island Mawi'omion Saturday afternoon.

"It's a glorious day," saidLennox Island First Nation Chief Darlene Bernard.

"We are a people who love to gather. We gather for everything. We gather to celebrate. We gather to face adversity. We gather to teach our children."

The gathering began with a grand entry. Flags were hung and dancers dressed in their regalia performed.

The mawi'omi also featured various food and art vendors, drumming and basket weaving demonstrations.

Long time coming

Bernard thinks so many showed up because the First Nation hasn't been able to hold a celebration like this for a long time.

"To be able to come and celebrate a mawi'omi is an amazing thing," she said. "It's an amazing gift given to us by the creator."

Bernard hopes this is just the start of similar gatherings in the province now that pandemic restrictions have loosened.

Bernard said the community comes together not only to celebrate, but to heal. She said that is important, especially with the discoveries ofunmarkedgraves on the grounds of former residential schools.

Richard Lush of Lennox Island, whodanced at the mawi'omi, called it "an amazing experience."

"Our hearts are full," Lush said. "We're back to being able to celebrate [and] showcase our dance styles."

While everyone at the event was happy to gather again,it feltlike something wasmissing to some.

"We've lost a lot of elders in the last two years," Patricia Bourque of Lennox Islandsaid.

Bourque's cousin,ElderFrank Joe, died just recently.

"Before we came to start talking an eagle just flew over really low and I thought, 'There is ourmissing there is Frank Joe.He's checking in on us.'"

The event continues Sunday, closing at 7 p.m. with a grand exit.

More from CBC P.E.I.