Elder's new children's book written in Wolastoqey, Mi'kmaw and English
A Wolastoqi elder is launching her latest project to try to preserve her language and share her culture.
Opolahsomuwehs, whose English name is Imelda Perley, has a new children's book out, written in Wolastoqey, Mi'kmaw and English.
It's called Woliwon 'Koselomulpa! Thank you. I love you all!
"I chose Sept. 30 [for the launch] because it's for those first 215 who didn't get to come home and be read to in their language in a loving way," said Perley.
She was referring to the children whose remains were discovered in 2021, in an unmarked mass grave on a former residential school property in Kamloops, B.C.
Sept. 30 is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, meant to acknowledge the atrocities of the residential school system.
Woliwon 'Koselomulpa! is written in Wolastoqey, Mi’kmaw and English. (Submitted by Goose Lane Editions)
Perley considers one of her responsibilities as a Wolastoqi grandmother is to welcome new babies into the world.
She takes part in sessions with pregnant women so that the Wolastoqey language can be part of their child's development even before birth.
Her new story was conceived from that perspective — a baby in the womb hearing about the gifts being prepared for them, such as a cradle board, moccasins, feathers from the eagle and medicines, she said.
The illustrations by Samaqani Cocahq/Natalie Sappier depict a journey on the land, where each aspect of the environment that welcomes the child is acknowledged with gratitude.
Every newborn will receive a copy
The book will be included in packages given to every newborn in the province through the Born to Read program. It will be the first in that program to include Wolastoqey and Mi'kmaw, said Julie Scriver of Goose Lane Editions.
The next edition will include French, said Perley, who started translating English stories into Wolastoqey in the early 1990s.
Then, to get the cultural exchange flowing the other way, she began writing stories in Wolastoqey and translating them into English.
The first project of that type was through the Department of Education.
She and Ron Tremblay, Gilbert Sewell, George Paul each wrote a story in their languages, Wolastoqey and Mi'kmaw, that was translated to English.
The Stone Medicine People was the first book Imelda Perley wrote in her own language first and then translated into English. (Jennifer Sweet/CBC)
Perley's more recent projects include an alphabet book with Oromocto First Nation, and five books soon to be published by Madawaska Maliseet First Nation, about the origin of its name and the bounty of Wolastoq through the seasons.
She also just finished translating a couple of episodes of the Berenstain Bears and did 20 episodes of Lil' Glooscap cartoons which will be shown on the new APTN language station.
Perley said it's a joy to see her language in an increasing number of places.
"Now we get to speak it. We get to learn it. And we get to see it. And obviously, now that we see it, we can feel it."
A key to future language growth and preservation will be a presence in the latest communication technology, she said.
"Wherever children are looking to, that's where I want to put language," she said.
Perley is the elder in residence at Harold Sappier school in Sitansisk. She also works intermittently at Tobique First Nation's Mah Sos School and three schools in Perth-Andover.
One thing she does is teach staff how to pronounce the traditional names of their students.
"That way they're not going to have to hide them. I want them to be proud of their identity," she said.
She sees it as a way to correct part of what happened in her own school experience, when the name her grandmother gave her, Opolahsomuwehs, was not allowed and was replaced with Imelda.
The book will be included in packages given to every newborn in the province through the Born to Read program. (Submitted by Goose Lane Editions)
"Language is who you are," said Perley.
"When we don't use our language and we use somebody else's language, then we become somebody else," she said.
She also teaches her students Wolastoqey words such as the names of trees.
"That's what this book is the beginning to. So there will be more coming that will teach our children about reconnecting to their environment," she said.
Perley is encouraged by the excitement and cultural pride of the children she teaches. Some parents recently sent her a video of their children speaking a land acknowledgement that Perley had taught them in Wolastoqey.
She also takes heart that students at Fredericton High School are still reciting an honour code she taught there 30 years ago.
A page from the alphabet colouring book Imelda Perley worked on with Oromocto First Nation. (Jennifer Sweet/CBC)
Perley estimated there are fewer than 500 fluent Wolastoqey speakers today, and that's including the Peskotomuhkati, or Passamaquoddy.
But there are "lots" of learners, she said.
"So yeah, it will be safe. I'm very optimistic, but we need to do more work."
Land acknowledgements are a good start, she said, and governments and businesses can do more of that.
Government could also help by making Wolastoqey and Mi'kmaw language classes available free of charge, outside of formal school settings, said Perley.
"It's way of giving back what was taken. It's restoring what was lost," she said.
Above all, Perley said she just wants people to keep learning.
"Go online … go to APTN … just don't stop learning. That's the only way we're going to learn more about each other."
