The SWNM Office is looking for donations of the following items:

Vacuum

Microwave Stand

Water Cooler

Chairs

Or if you have something else that you are throwing or giving away, email us and we will see if we can use it. Thank you.

Did you ever wonder where we got the expression "Hi-yi"? Here is the answer as told to us by Grand Sachem Iron Thunderhorse.

Originally this exclamation was part of an ancient "hand game" where a hidden bead gets passed back and forth stealthily between team players as they sing a song. The opposing team has to guess who has the bead. When a person thinks he knows who has the bead, he raises his stick and shouts, 'Hi-Yi", and if the other player opens his hand and there is no bead, he loses a point. If he guesses correctly, the leader of the game shouts "arrakonnuh" ("he captures it"). As these games were lost, the exclamation remained and when someone now says, "hi-yi" look at that - it was once, "Hi-Yi" look at that man's hand because he has the hidden bead.

We are currently updating our database of the email addresses of our members. If you have not recently received a test email from SWNM (swnmc@yahoo.com), then we do not have your email address. We would like all of our members who have email addresses to send us an email message with your name and membership card number so that we can have a record of your email address. Arumshemocke.

Four members of the ACQTC Sub-sachemship Nova Scotia Band (Sou'West Nova Métis) traveled to the Hammonasset State Park on October 1st to attend the bi-annual festival and maweomi. They met with Fox-Running and Kirouana before setting up the tent at the festival. They answered questions about our culture at the booth during the two day festival. They also took part in ceremonies, tried the atlatl, watched the native dancers, listened to Native American flute music, ate traditional foods, and visited the native craft vendors booths. There was also a Quinnipiac baby-blessing ceremony at the Hammonasset Beach. On the way home they visited Wampanoag Genealogist, Rainwaters at her home for a few hours and went to the Mashee Tribal Office to see Mother Bear. It was a good time of talking, laughing, learning, and making new friends.

The Lunar Calendar of the ACQTC Subsachemship - Nova Scotia Band at Cape Sable has been published in the Language section of this website.

There is a video now posted on the Explore Shelburne County website about our band. Here is the link: Nova Scotia Wampanoag Video

Bras d’Or aboriginals seeking native rights

By TERA CAMUS Cape Breton Bureau - Chronicle Herald

Wed. Jul 22 - 4:46 AM

Court breaks new ground - Muise will be province’s first Métis judge

The Confederacy of Nova Scotia Métis was dissolved at the January 30th, 2009 meeting. The Sou'West Nova Métis Council which was the only council left in the confederacy will continue to operate as usual. This website has now become the website for the Sou'West Nova Métis Council. Check the membership page for information on card replacements and new applications.

January 21-2009 WINNIPEG --- The National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation announced last week that Great-West Life, one of Canada's largest and most respected insurance companies, has agreed to develop financial support for Aboriginal students totaling $150,000 over the next three years. Great-West Life, London Life and Canada Life will contribute $50,000 annually over three years to fund bursaries supporting students enrolled in post-secondary studies or training and development programs of at least one-year duration. These bursaries fill a gap, identified by the National Aboriginal Foundation, in financial support available to Aboriginal students interested in upgrading their education or taking part in one- or two-year vocational programs.

"The Foundation is very excited to welcome Great-West Life as a new partner in our education program," said President and CEO of the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation Roberta Jamieson. "I am delighted to commend Great West Life as a company that has taken such leadership in supporting the development of our youth through education "

The bursary initiative extends the companies' existing relationship with the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation, one that, since 1994, has included sponsorship of The National Aboriginal Achievement Awards, post-secondary scholarships, and other initiatives. Jan Belanger, Assistant Vice-President of Community Affairs at Great-West Life, London Life and Canada Life said that the bursary award initiative reflects the companies' understanding that education and the pursuit of knowledge play a fundamental role in helping Aboriginal students reach their goals. The Great-West Life, London Life and Canada Life Bursary Award is national in scope and isn't limited to education supporting the needs of a particular industry. "Working closely with National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation, we've developed a financial assistance program that meets needs outside the scope of many industry-and regionally-specific bursaries currently available," Belanger said. "This funding responds to the needs of individual students on a broader basis. Helping them fulfill their educational and vocational ambitions is part of our focus on helping build stronger communities from coast to coast."