Mid-Winter is the Wolastoqiyik’s Pilikoton (New Year), a time of revitalisation for all Wolastoqiyik, to offer Thanksgiving for Creation and all Life forms below and above Mother Earth. It’s a time to remind ourselves that we need to take care of our mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing, to fulfil our responsibilities, and to request all of Creation to continue their roles and responsibilities so that we can live a good, healthy, and happy life.

This guest lecture series is open to students, staff, and faculty and will be held in the Learning Commons (3rd floor, main building).

Epahsi-Puniw (Mid-Winter) Speaker Series Schedule

All guest lectures are from 12-12:50 pm Atlantic Time.

Monday, Feb. 10

Tuesday, Feb. 11

Wednesday, Feb. 12

Thursday, Feb. 13

Merl Millier

Topic: What is Midwinter?

Elder Alma Brooks

Topic: Clanmother/Grandmother role

Edith Belanger

Topic: A Wolastoqey perspective on the 17th century archives: Women’s leadership, governance and traditional law

Sherri Mitchell

Topic: Indigenous Oral Tradition and the Sacred Element of Story

Meet the speakers

Merl Millier

Merl is Blackfoot from Alberta, but spent much of his youth in Inuvik N.W.T. and is a member of Bilijk (formerly known as Kingsclear First Nation).

Merl is a husband, father, grandfather and considers himself a helper in Indigenous terms.

He is a member of the Indigenous organization Wampum CISM and regularly provides support to First Nation communities experiencing critical events by facilitating talking circles, healing circles, and critical incident stress de-briefs.

Professionally, Merl is the Director of Indigenous Awareness and Community Support Branch with the Department of Indigenous Affairs, where he focuses on opportunities to advance reconciliation between government and Indigenous communities.

Wampum CISM

Alma Helen Brooks

Alma is a dedicated Elder, community leader, and advocate for cultural healing. An alumna of New Brunswick College of Craft & Design, she also holds a Bachelor of Arts from St. Thomas University, completed specialized training at Keyano College—where she was valedictorian—and the Nechi Institute, earning certifications in community wellness, addictions counselling, and advanced counsellor training.

As a member of the Wolastoq Grand Council, Alma fulfills the role of a Traditional Grandmother, serving as a Sweat Lodge Keeper and practitioner of traditional medicine and herbal baths. She leads sacred ceremonies, including water ceremonies, full moon rituals, and seasonal observances, preserving and sharing cultural knowledge. Committed to supporting residential school survivors, she has developed and facilitated programs at St. Mary’s First Nation and is the founder of the Penniac Sacred Land Healing Project, dedicated to community wellness and land-based healing.

Edith Belanger

Edith is member of the Wolastoqiyik Wahsipekuk community in Cacouna, Québec. Living on her traditional territory in Rivière-du-Loup, she works as director for the research sector at Institute Ashukan, a private organization dedicated to education and research on Indigenous matters. In addition, she is a mother of four children and three parrots, and she is completing a PhD in Indigenous Traditional Governance at Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue (UQAT).

She is an author of two books on Wolastoqey culture and has published in two collective book projects involving First Nations literature. Her interests for Indigenous traditions, cultures and rituals extends to her childhood. Over the years, Edith studied in many fields such as philosophy, law, herbal medicine, and hypnotherapy.

Sherri Mitchell -Weh’na Ha’mu Kwasset

Sherri is an Indigenous attorney, activist, and author from the Penobscot Nation. She received her Juris Doctorate from the University of Arizona’s Roger’s College of Law, specializing in Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy.

Sherri is the author of the award-winning book, Sacred Instructions; Indigenous Wisdom for Living Spirit-Based Change, which has been published in four languages.

Sherri is the founding director of the Land Peace Foundation, an Indigenous educational organization that focuses on Indigenous leadership, environmental justice, land rematriation, and kinship building.

Sherri serves as a Trustee for the American Indian Institute, she sits on both the Global Indigenous Advisory Council and the North American Advisory Council for Nia Tero’s Indigenous Land Guardianship Program, and is a board member of the Post Carbon Institute.

Sherri is the recipient of several human rights awards.

Learn more