Wisdom & Resilience: Kerry Prosper on Indigenous Heritage & Reconciliation

Credit: friendsunitedtv

In this 40-minute interview, former Paqtnkek Chief and Elder Kerry Prosper, who also serves as a Knowledge Keeper at St. Francis Xavier University, discusses with Nancy Regan the past and future experiences of Indigenous peoples regarding colonialism and its lasting impact. He highlights how older generations can guide younger ones on the paths of love, reconciliation, success, and sustainability.

Nancy Regan and Kerry Prosper also reflect on the life and achievements of his late friend Sandra Simon, who worked with Friends United as a mentor and artist. Sandra had an incredible talent and passion for making Porcupine Quill Baskets and Boxes, which is a significant and longstanding tradition of the Mi’kmaq people. This video is both emotional and meaningful, providing valuable life advice, such as the idea that happiness comes from within and how to find joy regardless of external circumstances.

Kerry also shares his experiences of language loss, explaining that at the age of five, he was forbidden to speak his native Mi’kmaw language at school, where instruction was exclusively in English. He describes how, over time, many customs and ceremonies were lost, and he emphasizes the efforts of the Mi’kmaq people today to keep their traditions alive and revive them. For a long time, it was illegal to practice anything that reflected Mi’kmaq heritage.

70 quill baskets made by Sandra Simon can be seen at the Friends United Internation Convention Center (Cape Breton, Nova Scotia), where this interview took place.