The Membertou Heritage Park reopened its doors on Sept. 8 after the cultural and heritage park was forced to temporarily close because of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.
The park's general manager thinks the business is an important part of the community.
“It’s important that we don’t forget where we come from and we don’t forget our history,” said Jeff Ward.
Inside the heritage park are products and items for sale but also cultural and historical items like a birch bark canoe and Donald Marshall Jr.’s nets, famous for the Supreme Court of Canada case that affirmed the Mi’kmaq treaty rights including hunting and fishing rights. The nets are a permanent installation.
Ward hopes people know there are new safety measures in place.
The park has seven hand washing stations, with stickers reminding people to social distance, costumers must wear masks and the facility is constantly disinfected.
Ward said he understands public safety comes first so the staff is small, the meeting rooms and workshops they can host are limited to the amount of people they can serve.
Ward said recently he's been holding, “how to be a good ally workshops,” and can meet people where they feel comfortable.
“It’s really important now especially with the Black Lives Matter movement,” said Ward.
He also offers cultural and history lessons of Mi’kmaq people and said he’s willing to teach drumming and cultural songs.
An important part of the space for him is the work and input from the elder advisory committee and with their help the park hopes to rebrand and expand soon. But he knows always at the centre's heart will be Mi’kmaq culture.
“As much as the business side of Membertou is important so is the cultural side and Membertou has created a great balance between that,” said Ward.
Andrea Dennis was glad the park reopened.
“I was praying and smudging saying, ‘Come on God open this up again,’ because I totally missed working here,” said Dennis.
She felt the initial layoffs were world-shattering because she just wanted to work but she understood the safety measures. Dennis started back in the Membertou employment pool in janitorial work and helped clean and disinfect all the community buildings. Now, she is working as a cashier and disinfects all the high touch areas in the park, including the bathrooms and doors.
“We are very serious about keeping our building safe,” said Dennis.
And she takes it personally because she's seen parents bring in young kids to learn more about Mi’kmaq history and culture and she hopes they feel safe when they come in the space, both, spiritually and physically. The park also offers traditional medicines like sage.
