2007 March 22 « Yarmouth County Blog

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Tribute To Rita Joe

I was originally going to call this an Ode To Rita Joe, however, when I checked the definition I knew that what I wanted to write was indeed a Tribute To Rita Joe. A Tribute may be defined as something given or done as an expression of esteem or a payment by one nation for protection by another. Truly what Rita Joe has done in her short 75 years here on earth has done much to bring understanding between nations and she is to be held in great esteem for that.

On a personal note, I’m very pleased to have met Rita during my time and travels to Eskasoni, Cape Breton where she lived. she was a wonderful person and my only regret is having lost touch with her over the years. She, as well as her writing, embodied what it was to be a person of Red Heart and I will always treasure the memories I have of her and the time I was able to spend with her. In the words of Rita, I say Wenmajita’si (I am filled with grief). For we have truly lost one of Canada’s Greatest people, a person I choose to call kitap, and a true source of inspiration for all who met her.

For those of you who do not know; Rita Joe was a Mi’kmaq (Micmac) poet and songwriter, born in Whycocomagh on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia in 1932 to parents Josie and Annie Bernard. Rita’s parents died when she was a child and Rita spent time in foster homes until the age of 12, when she entered the residential school in Shubenacadie, NS until she left the residential school at the age of 16. Rita married in 1954, when She met Frank Joe in Boston and they moved to Eskasoni, Cape Breton, and there raised 10 children. Rita left this life, and passed on into the next March 20, 2007.

Rita, known as the “poet laureate” of the Mi’kmaw people, often wrote to challenge the negative images of Aboriginal people. Her books include The Poems of Rita Joe, Songs of Eskasoni: More Poems of Rita Joe, Lnu and Indians We’re Called, and Songs of Rita Joe: The Autobiography of a Mi’kmaq Poet, and have been highly acclaimed. In her lifetime Rita played a beautiful, gentle, loving, and powerful, role in defining how Aboriginal people are perceived.

Rita was a Member of the Queen’s Privy Council and the Order of Canada, and was awarded the Order of Canada (1989), Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Dalhousie University (1993), and an Aboriginal Achievement Award (1997). These are but a few of her accomplishments, as were her children, and the many lives (including mine) that she touched.

Coming close second to her family, she treasured her National Aboriginal Achievement Award, believing the Award is exactly the kind of thing that Canada needs for both its Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people. Pointing out that Natives have a lot to offer. The recipients are from all different walks of life making positive contributions.

The spirit with which Rita accepted the Award reflects who she truly was as she said, “I was very honored, appreciative too, because it’s from my own people, and I was very happy because you feel honored that they appreciate you.” Yet although she has been recognized by her peers, she didn’t consider herself the real achiever. She said that when she received the award, she faced the people and thought, “they were the achievers.” Rita was was not thinking of herself even though she had worked all her life for Native causes and was receiving the award, she felt others were the achievers.

Rita said, “When I started the first time writing, I was trying to inspire all minorities with my work. To make others happy with my work is what I wanted to do.” Let me say Rita, you have done your job here very well, you have inspired many of us and that which you’ve started will live on in many of us.

Perhaps, now, we the people will begin to follow in her footsteps. Perhaps now Rita, your work, your love, and spirit will guide guide us to a place where we too will recognize each other as important and valuable contributors to the world around us. Perhaps now we will live our lives as intended and build each other up and learn to support one another.

I will forever be thankful for having had the great honour of meeting and spending time with Rita Joe. I extend my love to all her family in this difficult time, and to all of my relations I say Wela’lin – Thank you!
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So, for YarmouthCounty.com, this has been Brian Hurlburt, and I invite you to Make it a great day!

Sincerely,

Brian Hurlburt

customerservice@yarmouthcounty.com

List of Helpful Links

Wenmajita’si (I am filled with grief) By Rita Joe

The Aboriginal Multi-Media Society (AMMSA)

Mi’kmaq Language and the Mi’kmaq Indian Tribe

DNA Tribes Genetic Ancestry Analysis

Mi’gmaq Mi’kmaq Micmac Online Talking Dictionary

Atlantic Canada’s First Nation Help Desk

Aboriginal Language Initiative