M’CHIGEENG—On September 29, a day more like summer than fall and just a day before Truth and Reconciliation Day, the M’Chigeeng Day Care held its annual Memorial Powwow for Ellen Migwans, who died 25 years ago. Ms. Migwans played a large part in the day care centre and was loved by everyone there all those years ago. For the past 24 years, the centre has been honouring Ms. Migwans and her family with the annual powwow.
In the backyard at the centre, drummers played, and dancers circled around them. It was a festive event, full of laughter and conversation as Sylvia, Lorraine, Leland, Clive and Joe, Ms. Migwans’ children, gathered and danced, along with aunties and many little children. Ms. Migwans had eight children. Two sons have since passed away and daughter Rhoda was unable to be at the memorial.
“My mom went to school to get her certificate in Early Childhood Education,” Joe Migwams told The Expositor. “She worked with others to get this going. She worked here for the longest time,” he said, indicating the daycare centre that still loves and remembers his mother. “The culture needs to be brought back; we need to support it and preserve it. This, by teaching the children, is the very first thing we have to do to bring things back, to instill in them the values, the beliefs the stories of our people, this is where it begins, with the children.”
A feast followed the powwow, everyone then entered the daycare centre and enjoyed a huge meal prepared by many of the family members. The family proudly pointed out a plaque with Ellen Migwans picture, and at the bottom is written, “In memory of Ellen (Cub-dee) Migwans, who taught us the importance of our Native Language and Culture.”
“Anybody that knew her, loved my mom,” Joe Migwans said. “This is the first time I’ve been able to experience this (event in his mother’s honour), but I’m super happy to be here today. This is amazing. The drummers that come, and all the people from the community that come to honour her and have fun. And that’s the main thing, because my mom was all about fun.”
Going on simultaneously at the centre, Stephanie Thompson was creating a mural out front on the stone wall at Highway 551. A bright orange mural, boldly stating ‘Every Child Matters.’ Ms. Thompson had the children of the day care centre add their handprints to the mural, she had teachers and anyone else who was willing to blacken their hand and add their print to her mural do so. After the family feast inside, some of the Migwans siblings joined in the fun, preserving their presence at the centre with their handprint on the mural. It was a memorable day and a good way to face the day of Truth and Reconciliation that followed.
by Margery Frisch
