This title expires February 28th, 2025

Subject(s): Arts, Canadian History, Canadian Social Studies, First Nations Studies, History, Indigenous Issues, Indigenous Peoples, Social Sciences, Social Studies, Women's Studies
Grade Level: 3 - 5, 6 - 8, 9 - 12, Post Secondary, Adult

This video tells (in the Malecite language) the story of the origin of the Wolastoq River (the original name of St. John River, NB) whose shape resembles that of a tree. When Aglebe’m hoarded all the waters, the rivers ran dry, and the people were dying of thirst. They sent a messenger to beg him for water. When he refused, a second messenger felled a tree which killed Aglebe’m; the trunk became the riverbed, the branches the tributaries, and its leaves were ponds that fed the streams.

Biography:

Mélanie Brière is a member of the Wolastoqiyik Wahsipekuk First Nation, formerly known as Malecite (Maliseet) of Viger, Quebec. She studied cinema and audiovisual production and has been working in the production sector since 2014. In recent years, she has been raising awareness of Indigenous cultures and realities among different audiences and, through this short film, wants to offer a tool to hear and learn Wolastoqey latuwewakon (the Malecite language) to members of her Nation. She also hopes to shares Wolastoqey culture with the general public.

Malecite narration / English subtitles

Also available in French: Wolastoq amsqah peciyat (L’origine de la Wolastoq)

Running Time: 3:17 Country of Origin: Canada

Producer: Wapikoni Mobile Copyright Date: 2019 Language: English

1. Wolastoq amsqah peciyat (The origin of the Wolastoq River): The Wapikoni Indigenous Filmmakers Collection  3:17
   This video tells (in the Malecite language) the story of the...
   This video tells (in the Malecite language) the story of the origin of the Wolastoq River (the original name of St. John River, NB) whose shape resembles that of a tree. When Aglebe’m hoarded all the waters, the rivers ran dry, and the people were dying of thirst. They sent a messenger to beg him for water. When he refused, a second messenger felled a tree which killed Aglebe’m; the trunk became the riverbed, the branches the tributaries, and its leaves were ponds that fed the streams. Biography: Mélanie Brière is a member of the Wolastoqiyik Wahsipekuk First Nation, formerly known as Malecite (Maliseet) of Viger, Quebec. She studied cinema and audiovisual production and has been working in the production sector since 2014. In recent years, she has been raising awareness of Indigenous cultures and realities among different audiences and, through this short film, wants to offer a tool to hear and learn Wolastoqey latuwewakon (the Malecite language) to members of her Nation. She also hopes to shares Wolastoqey culture with the general public. Also available in French: Wolastoq amsqah peciyat (L’origine de la Wolastoq)