'We Had Something Good and Sacred Here': ReStorying A'se'k with Pictou Landing First Nation

Abstract

For generations of Mi’kmaq from Pictou Landing First Nation, A’se’k (often referred to as Boat Harbour) provided cultural, recreation, and livelihood functions. For almost 50 years, this once-healthy tidal estuary has been receiving effluent from a nearby bleached kraft pulp mill. This study was carried out in partnership with the Pictou Landing Native Women’s Association, and sought to collect stories of A’se’k from Knowledge Holders who remember it as a healthy, thriving, culturally significant community place. Using a narrative approach of restorying, the historical importance of and changes to A’se’k are illuminated through the voices of Mi’kmaq who have lived the experiences. Their stories further highlight the ongoing environmental, health, and social injustices faced by Indigenous peoples, shaped by the many complex dimensions of colonialism and racism in Canada. Through a reflexive examination of my experiences as a non-Indigenous graduate student navigating the research landscape, this study also highlights a process of learning to be an ally alongside Indigenous partners. Together, these findings suggest the need to restory Canada’s (ongoing) colonial legacy, through community-based processes, in order to move towards ending colonial structures.