Sons of Membertou Educator Award

Award Description:

This award recognizes an individual(s) or group who has/have promoted and demonstrated the importance of Creative Arts as an educational tool. This award recognizes effective learning-centered creative arts initiatives designed to elevate and integrate the arts in diverse cultures and contexts. Curricula development, programming design, innovation in creative arts teaching modalities to produce effective teaching and learning tools, as well as achievement in the application of teaching and learning outcomes will be considered.

About the Sons of Membertou:

For more than two decades, the Sons of Membertou have inspired and captivated audiences as a group of traditional Mi’kmaw performers, sharing their music, dance and prayer. Their work is a celebration of life, a rejuvenation of spirit and a tribute to their ancestors.

Their story began in 1992 when Elders gifted a drum to Darrell and Sharon Bernard, who were entrusted with the responsibility of returning it to the community. Honouring this request, they gathered artists and recorded traditional and contemporary songs, leading to the release of their first album, Wapna’kik: The People of the Dawn. Sung almost entirely in the Mi’kmaw language, the album was a resounding success, inspiring a new generation of Mi’kmaw musicians.

Following the success of their debut, the Sons of Membertou travelled the world, sharing Mi’kmaw culture through their powerful vocals, moving lyrics and electrifying melodies, all rooted in the steady heartbeat of the drum. With the 2024 re-release of Wapna’kik on Smithsonian Folkways Recordings in partnership with CBU’s Centre for Sound Communities, the group has gained renewed international recognition and continued to perform across Canada and beyond, using music as a vehicle for cultural and linguistic preservation.

The Sons of Membertou are more than performers, they are educators and culture bearers. They are deeply committed to preserving and revitalizing language, culture and ceremony. While many Indigenous languages across North America are in decline, the group sees music and digital accessibility as critical tools in language revitalization, providing younger generations with new ways to connect with their heritage.

To the Sons of Membertou, truth and reconciliation is a two-way street, built on mutual learning, understanding and relationships. They challenge audiences to think ahead seven generations, to reflect on their legacy and to build strong connections through cultural exchange.