Community involvement and support of the elders is vital in maintaining and reviving culture and language. Imelda Perley, a teacher and Maliseet speaker, has committed her time and knowledge to community based programs for the people of St. Mary’s, Kingsclear and Tobique, N.B on the Saint John River.  Background: Maliseet/Wolastoq is part of the Algonquin language group, although Maliseet (a Mi'kmaw word meaning slow talker or lazy speaker) is significantly different from Mi'kmaw. The Jay Treaty gave the Maliseet free border crossing rights, and the Maliseet share history, culture, and language with the Passamaquoddy and Penobscot tribes in the US.