CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Starr Bennett dances for her grandmother.
Like many Indigenous people in Canada, Bennett’s grandmother had her language and culture stripped from her when she was forced to go to a residential school. Dancing is a way for Bennett to honour a legacy which was almost lost.
Bennett, who works with the Native Council of P.E.I., opened the week-long Embracing Diversity Fair at Holland College’s Prince of Wales campus on Monday with her colleague, Sarah Bernard.
During the presentation, Bennett recognized others who may not have a connection to their own cultures.
“Be proud. Be who you are. Speak your language if you know your language. Practise your culture. Do whatever you can because it’s your right. That’s your strength. Share your teachings, share your knowledge and don’t ever be ashamed of that.”
In the spirit of sharing, Bennett and Bernard performed a traditional Mi’kmaq honour song followed by a smudging ceremony. During the smudging, Bennett explained the process to the crowd gathered in the Holland College cafeteria. Then the women took turns talking about the significance of their drums and the dresses they had displayed behind them.
Diversity week
- This year, Holland College's Embracing Diversity Fair is sponsored by National Bank and includes daily dominoes tournaments, a week-long round-robin cricket tournament and cultural celebrations from noon to 1 p.m. at each Holland College campus.
- It culminates in an international student showcase at the Florence Simmons Hall on Friday, March 13, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
- For a full list of Embracing Diversity fair activities, visit hollandcollege.com
Mike MacDonald, a student at the college, says he is always looking to learn more about other cultures and is looking forward to attending events throughout the week. And he was glad the week opened with a focus on Indigenous culture.
“It’s important, especially in Canada and North America, where we need to do more for First Nations people and have more representation of their culture since so many of them have been wiped out or had to fight to come back," he said.
This is the third year the international department at the college held the fair. What started as a one-day event now lasts for a full week.
The growth is due in part to feedback from the students, said Holland College's Julia Clayton.
"Almost 30 per cent of our student population is international students, so I think it's really important that they get the chance to showcase where they come from and give them activities that remind them of home ... it's a great way to foster community and inclusiveness."
For Bennett, there can never be enough events like this one.
With events like Wet'suwet'en and the Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls inquiry being in the news, she says education is crucial for combatting things like racism.
“Racism is a learned thing, so if [people] learn when they’re young that our culture’s amazing, they grow up knowing that.”
