ANTIGONISH: It was a ceremony of unity.
On September 7, StFX University’s Dennis Hall hosted a ceremonial raising of the Mi’kmaq Flag, which will now permanently fly outside the office of the university’s president.
The Mi’kmaq flag riasing received a standing ovation from all of the atendees at Dennis Hall on September 7. Pictured are (from the left): Tamara Cremo, Paqtnkek Chief P.J. Prosper, StFX President Dr. Kent MacDonald, Grand Chief Ben Sylliboy, and Pictou Landing Chief Andrea Paul.
University president Dr. Kent MacDonald called the raising of the flag a tangible symbolic message that “we recognize this great university is sitting on the unseated territory of the Mi’kmaq people, [and] that StFX is committing to being an open, welcoming institution with real commitment to equity and inclusion.”
“It also recognizes that we have been doing work over the years but this is a deeper commitment, institution-wide, to do even more going forward,” said MacDonald.
These First Nations drummers closed out the flag raising ceremonmy at StFX.
MacDonald said the easiest thing would have been to just raise the flag and leave it at that. Through consultation, MacDonald said, university staff learned they are in a process where they can’t assume they know how to do everything right. Mi’kmaq elders, with whom the university works, advised the school on how to do the ceremony properly and make sure a number of voices were heard.
“I think today’s ceremony recognizes that we did it the right way,” he said. “It’s that type of outcome where students are seeing what we’re trying to do. They’ll be the voices going forward. I’m very proud of the way this was rolled out today and I’m more proud of the individuals who have been carrying this flag for many years and the broader community, Paq’tnkek and the Mi’kmaq community, to have the patience to allow us to do this properly.”
Paq’tnkek Chief P.J. Prosper thanked everyone for attending the flag raising ceremony.
Paq’tnkek Chief P.J. Prosper was also at the ceremony. He said he was blown away by the amount of people who came out to fill Dennis Hall and see the flag raised.
“I’ve been to various events here and it was packed and you could hear a pin drop because of the solemness at the event,” he said. “I think it’s something that we all share and we’ll have a bit to takeaway with as we carry on with the rest of our lives. It’s truly special, a truly sacred event and I commend StFX for taking that approach.”
Prosper said there are a number of parallel initiatives being worked on by the university.
“They have been pushing the agenda and moving the agenda, setting the example, I believe, for other universities to follow,” said Prosper. “I am so honoured and overjoyed in terms of this ceremony. It’s really incredible when you get people coming together and sharing an occasion like this.”
StFX Student Union President Annie Sirois and Aboriginal Decent Student Councillor Kashya Young were the MCs for the flag raising ceremony.