Halifax council to consider designated Mi'kmaw seat

CBC
Mon, October 23, 2023 


Halifax councillors will look at creating a designated Mi'kmaw council seat, and reviving the idea of allowing permanent residents to vote in municipal elections.

A report on what changes would be needed to bring in various electoral reforms came before the city's executive standing committee on Monday. It noted the municipality does not have the power on its own to establish designated districts for specific groups, like African Nova Scotian, Acadian, or Indigenous representation, without permission from the provincial government.

Coun. Waye Mason of Halifax South Downtown said the timing is right, because a common theme emerged from Mi'kmaw groups during consultation on Halifax's new culture and heritage priorities plan.

"What we heard, over and over again, was 'we think there should be a Mi'kmaw seat in Halifax,'" Mason said during the meeting.

Coun. Waye Mason says many Mi'kmaw groups have called for a designated seat on regional council (CBC)

Mason said while any model would be created in discussion with Mi'kmaw representatives, one option could be the former school board model. In that process, residents could opt to vote for people running for a designated seat.

But Coun. Paul Russell, representing Lower Sackville, said he sat on the Halifax school board 20 years ago, and that system brought "challenges." Russell said those in designated seats naturally have to become a more vocal advocate for their population, rather than the whole region.

"There are some who believe that this ultimately led to the demise of the school boards," Russell said.

"Consider very carefully what would happen if we have someone in that role who is more of an activist."

Coun. Patty Cuttell of Spryfield-Sambro Loop-Prospect Road said an activist could run for municipal office in any district now, and all councillors have a responsibility to act in the best interests of residents across Halifax.

"Having that voice as part of our discussions and deliberations is an important one, and it's also an important one in a step to reconciliation," Cuttell said.

Waverley, Fall River and Musquodoboit Valley Coun. Cathy Deagle Gammon, said she supported the idea, but had concerns about choosing one special interest group over others.

Cuttell said the Mi'kmaq are in a different situation than any other groups, because they are the original people of the land, and signed important Peace and Friendship Treaties with the governing British hundreds of years ago.

"It's about … how we work together moving forward," Cuttell said.

Designated seat available in legislature

Mason pointed out that there is "tremendous precedent" on the issue in Nova Scotia already, because the provincial legislature has had a seat for a Mi'kmaw representative since 1992 that has never been filled.

The standing committee eventually recommended that regional council should get the mayor and staff to ask the province for permission to consider a Mi'kmaw council seat.

It also recommended that council ask the province to revisit the topic of allowing permanent residents to vote

Halifax council has pushed for the change for years, requesting in 2014 that the province amend the Municipal Elections Act to extend voting rights to permanent residents in Nova Scotia.

Mayor Mike Savage raised it with the former Liberal government again in 2019, but it has never happened. On Monday, multiple councillors and Savage talked about the importance of giving the vote to people who've lived in Halifax for years, pay taxes, often own property, and use municipal services, but do not hold Canadian citizenship.

"I just get a little frustrated that as a province we talk a lot about the importance of new Canadians … I think it's something we should be looking at," Savage said.

Both recommendations will come before regional council at a later date.

Mi'kmaw language users can now text with new Apple keyboard

CBC
Mon, October 23, 2023 


Apple users can now text their friends with a keyboard tailored for Mi'kmaw dialects and one fluent speaker thinks that will help the next generation of language learners.

The Mi'kmaw language keyboard, which rolled out last month as part of Apple software updates, was a partnership between Apple and Mi'kmaw Kina'matnewey, a language education authority for 12 communities in Nova Scotia.

"Some of the kids at the immersion school will be able to properly communicate and properly use a keyboard that will have the Mi'kmaw way of spelling," said Patrick Denny from Eskasoni First Nation, 270 kilometres northeast of Halifax.

"That will further develop their communication skills that they'll be able to pass on."

Denny said he's lucky to be a fluent speaker and writer in his language at age 29.

His community has over 1,000 speakers but he said there's still hesitation by some to write in the language.


Patrick Denny is Mi'kmaw from Eskasoni First Nation and he's excited to see the next generation able to speak and write in Mi'kmaw. (submitted by Patrick Denny )

Denny said people fear misspelling words, but with so many people communicating by text and social media, having a Mi'kmaw keyboard will help normalize using the language.

"We have all these resources and these tools that are available to us so that we can continue to revitalize and further the Mi'kmaw language," said Denny.

Blaire Gould, executive director of Mi'kmaw Kina'matnewey, said they've established a relationship with Apple for a number of years, and use iPads in their classrooms.

She said it's about blending traditional knowledge with innovative technology.


Blaire Gould is the executive director of Mi’kmaw Kina’matnewey, an organizational team representing the educational interests of Nova Scotia First Nations. She said in order to revitalize the language, educators have to use innovative tools. (Robert Short/CBC)

"My belief is that language has to evolve and the evolution of languages ensures the survival of languages," said Gould.

"We have to evolve with the times and not forget our old ways, but infusing new ways into the work that we're doing."

She said Apple approached her a year ago about the Mi'kmaw keyboard. Apple did not respond to a request for comment by time of publishing.

Gould said she had Apple meet with their IT manager and their elders advisory board, which is made up of about 15 elders and language keepers from surrounding communities, because she wanted to make sure their elders approved of the way the language was presented and to ensure it was accurate.


J.R. Isadore is the IT Manager for Mi'kmaw Kina'matnewey (Mi'kmaw Kina'matnewey)

J.R. Isadore, the IT manager, is from Membertou First Nation and helped with developing Mi'kmaw language apps like L'nui'suti.

"Apple is really supporting efforts to revitalize First Nation languages and I think they're showing it in this way," said Isadore.

He said the keyboard includes words from different orthographies and dialects like Francis-Smith, Pacifique and Listuguj and features symbols like the schwa.