Heartbeat of our nations: 11th annual Mawi’Omi on Campus held on Friday
By: Chelsea Perry
On Friday, the Mawi’omi Student Centre hosted their 11th annual Mawi’omi on Campus in McMillan Hall.
A “Mawi’omi,†derived from the Mi’kmaq word for “Gatheringâ€, is a time for the Mi’kmaq community to showcase and celebrate the beauty, strength, spirit, and endurance of their culture.
Sherri Russell, coordinator of the Mawi’omi Centre, explained that the event took several months to plan, adding that increasing crowd numbers has required more planning on behalf of the committee.
The ceremony consisted of a Grand Entry, followed by hours of song, dance, and storytelling.
The event was attended by several elementary schools Island-wide, and students were invited to join in the dances. (Chelsea Perry)
“It is a celebration of the heartbeat of our nationsâ€, said Junior Peter-Paul, a Mi’kmaq elder.
Junior Peter-Paul added that he would like to see a mid-winter pow wow hosted in the near future, open to the public.
Recorded by: Chelsea Perry & Allison O’Brien. Edited by: Tony Davis.