A call for Two-Spirit acceptance
Eskasoni man says colonization disconnected people from their history
ESKASONI, N.S. — Bertram Bernard Jr. is working diligently to educate people about the roots of Two-Spirit people in Mi’kmaq culture because he says colonization has ripped away people from that history.
“Today, a lot of people don’t know that this is a part of our culture because of residential schools and the church system,” said Bernard Jr., a 28-year-old Two-Spirit Eskasoni resident, who has no preference one over the other between the he or she pronouns.
Bernard said in Mi’kmaq history Two-Spirit people were often spiritual leaders, and he read a lot of that history while researching a thesis on a related topic. He thinks his own journey was unique. His parents are very spiritual and believe deeply in traditional Mi’kmaq ways, so when he came out as Two-Spirit, they were very accepting.
“For me it was a really positive space growing up in Eskasoni,” said Bernard, who is working as chief operating officer at Pride Eskasoni. “I want that for the younger generations.”
He believes education is key — and education is something he knows something about.
Bernard has an extensive business background, receiving both a bachelor of arts and master’s in business from Cape Breton University. Last year he graduated from the Harvard Business School program.
Geordy Marshall, executive director of Pride Eskasoni, says all those skills give Bernard a great business approach to help lead the Cape Breton organization in its plans to expand to all 13 Mi’kmaq communities in Nova Scotia.
“He loves our people and will do anything to ensure that we are all pulling ourselves to our future and healing form intergenerational trauma and colonization,” said Marshall.
The next initiative is called Kepmite’lsi, which Bernard said can have two meanings in English depending on how it’s said in Mi’kmaw — it can mean “I’m proud of myself” or “Take pride in who you are.”
The initiative will be centred around expanding Pride in various communities, teaching the history of Two-Spirit people and educating others about intergenerational trauma and colonization.
While Pride Eskasoni’s focus is the 2SLGBTQ+ community, it also plans to educate the wider community about Indigenous ways of knowing and Two-Spirit history.
“It’s a very family-oriented business. It’s our approach and it’s always going to be our approach to see things through a Mi’kmaq lens,” said Marshall.
Bernard said when that initiative is up and running, he would also like to help people better understand financial literacy. He knows some people still struggle with loans and other aspects of finances. Bernard credits his parents for sparking his interest in business.
“They helped me appreciate the education around money, “said Bernard.
He also hopes more people learn about the 2SLGTBQ+ community and understand Mi’kmaq ways of knowing.
“I appreciate people starting to understand and promote this way of Mi’kmaq people,” said Bernard.