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Growing up, Nancy Ward’s Indigenous roots weren’t a big part of her life.
“For the longest time, unless you were status, you never really admitted to it,” said Ward.
Now, her Huron and Algonquin roots are a part of her every day — from work to home life and everything in between.
Ward is the program manager for the BIAK (Bonnechere Inòdewiziwin Abinòdjìnjish Kikinàmàgan) Mobile EarlyON program, which offers free Indigenous programs for families and children throughout Renfrew County.
“We always knew we were Indigenous, but we really didn’t know much about it,” said Ward. “I joined the Bonnechere Algonquin First Nation in 2006 and started my journey. It was what I felt was in my heart.”
A member of the Kichi Sibi women drumming group, Ward said reconnecting to her roots has been very rewarding.
She’s pleased and proud of the continued success of the BIAK EarlyON program, which allows facilitators to share their culture with a host of others.
“Algonquins lost a lot of our culture and we’re trying to bring that back. Language and traditions have been lost,” said Ward.
She’s quick to praise and credit the program’s early childhood educator, Jessica Levesque, of the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan.
The program opened in 2017 and was at first stationed in Pembroke.
“We weren’t getting very many people coming in at first. Then we decided in 2019 to become mobile and it’s been very successful,” she said. “We do Indigenous teachings and drumming. Everything is based on the Seven Grandfathers Teachings.”
And while EarlyON programs are traditionally geared toward ages up to six, the Indigenous and mobile nature of the BIAK program means things can be more family-oriented.
“We never turn down older kids — they can all pass on the knowledge to their siblings and friends,” said Ward.
Although she is 68, she has no desire to quit working any time soon, if ever. What keeps her so dedicated?
“I just love what I do. It’s just seeing how those children accept what we are teaching them. They just love the drumming,” she said.
More than once, she has seen a child having a meltdown or otherwise distracted and “as soon as we start drumming and singing, the child stops and participates.”
What’s the best advice Ward has ever received?
“Probably ‘family first’ and that came from my father. He was a very family-oriented man; my mom was too,” said Ward.
And that translates to her involvement in Indigenous activities.
“As far as the Bonnechere Algonquin First Nation, they are my family too,” she said.
She’s pleased to report that the BIAK program is widely well-received.
“Since we started to go out doing Indigenous teaching and drumming, from one end of Renfrew County to the other, it’s getting very popular now. People are really embracing it and they want to learn about our culture,” said Ward.
If non-Indigenous Canadians learn one thing about Indigenous history this month, what does Ward think that should be?
The family focus again, she said.
“Indigenous people are very family oriented — families and children are the most important. We talk about the next seven generations. We want Mother Earth to stay pure so that children in seven generations can be as happy as we are now.”
