October is Mi'kmaw History Month. Rather than trivia, I end with a story.

As you may know, the school in my home community of We'koqma'q is under Mi'kmaw Kina'matnewey jurisdiction and not the province. In June 2016, I was home for my cousin's high school graduation. 1/9

For the first time in the school's history, a non-Native graduated.

My cousin told me that this young man (an Acadian) was subjected to bullying at his old school, was very depressed, and even had suicidal thoughts. He was allowed to come to the on-reserve school. 2/9

My cousin informed me that this young man entered at grade ten, was treated no differently than from everyone else, and was fully accepted. He became happier and healthier. 3/9

At graduation, when his name was announced, the principal (half jokingly but very seriously and sincerely) immediately said, "honourary Mi'kmaw" (for having come to our school). I beamed with pride and happiness after learning this, on the brink of tears. 4/9

I think that, if I ever had to describe one beautiful thing about the Mi'kmaq, is that we have always welcomed and accepted people to help them try and build a new life, especially after fleeing a past awful one. 5/9

The Mi'kmaq have welcomed and helped others for hundreds of years. It started with the French when they first arrived to trade. We went to Jipuktuk/Halifax shores with baskets of food to welcome newly arriving English. We took in Acadians during the Expulsion. 6/9

We even took in another in 2016 when their own community rejected him. To my knowledge, the Mi'kmaq never had immigration policies prohibiting people from coming here and we never had a goddamn wall. 7/9

To this day, when one tells me that they're a refugee, immigrant, new citizen, etc... I tell them that, as a First Nations person, I welcome you to this land, the Land of the Mi'kmaq, Mi'kma'ki. 8/9

Happy Mi'kmaw History Month. Thank you for reading. Oh and Happy Halloween (and Happy Birthday to me)! 9/9