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New Brunswick·Ann's Eye

Honouring the work of a longtime 'song carrier'

Barbara Paul of Sipayik, also known as Pleasant Point Passamaquoddy Reservation, in Maine received gifts from her community during a ceremony to honour her decades of teaching.

Barbara Paul has been teaching Wabanaki songs for 35 years

CBC News ·
A woman with wispy grey hair and wearing sunglasses stands in front of a river.
Barbara Paul of Sipayik, also known as Pleasant Point Passamaquoddy Reservation, in Maine, received gifts during a ceremony to honour her decades of teaching. (Ann Paul/CBC)

This is part of a series called Ann's Eye, featuring the work of Ann Paul, a Wolastoqey content creator. You can see more Ann's Eye pieces by clicking here.

As friends and family of song carrier Barbara Paul were celebrating her decades of teaching music to Indigenous youth, an eagle flew overhead.

They were honouring Barbara with gifts and drumming at Split Rock, a sacred place in Sipayik, also known as Pleasant Point Passamaquoddy Reservation, in Maine. 

"It's a gift in itself when eagles show up," said Ann Paul, who attended Barbara's ceremony. "I think that was Barbara's gift. They're acknowledging her as well."

A song carrier is someone who "carries all of our songs and passes them on through the generations," Ann Paul said, adding Barbara is a song carrier for the Wabanaki region.

Scroll through the photos below and watch the video to see more of Barbara's ceremony.

WATCH | See the moment an eagle flew overhead: 

Ann’s Eye: She’s taught songs for 35 years. See her community honour her

5 months ago
Duration 1:13
Barbara Paul of Sipayik (Pleasant Point Passamaquoddy Reservation) in Maine has taught Wabanaki songs, old and new, to Indigenous youth for 35 years. Her community honoured her work in a ceremony at Split Rock.
A drum with writing on the top sits on grass wrapped in pink-patterned fabric. A woven basket sits next to the drum.
Barbara's drum has the names of every child she's taught songs to over her decades of teaching. (Ann Paul/CBC)
A group of people stand in a circle on a grassy field, a blue river in the distance.
During the ceremony at Split Rock in Maine, an eagle flew overhead. (Ann Paul/CBC)
A woman with grey hair and wearing sunglasses stands outside holding up a hand drum with a blue turtle painted on it. She sings as she beats the drum.
Barbara Paul has been visiting school classrooms and teaching Wabanaki songs for 35 years, and she has no plans to stop. 'If I don't do it, who will?' she asked. (Ann Paul/CBC)
Three women dressed in colourful Indigenous clothing stand outside on the grass in front of a river. All three hold painted hand drums.
Every woman who attended Barbara's ceremony is someone who had her as a teacher, Ann Paul said. (Ann Paul/CBC)
A woman, two younger women and a male child stand together outside holding up a drum with an eagle painted on it.
Barbara shows off the bottom of her drum while standing with her grandchildren. (Ann Paul/CBC)
A basket wrapped in a pink, white and black-patterned blanket sits on the grass next to a woven basket filled with items.
The blanket is used to protect the drum, Ann Paul said. 'You wrap it with love. You protect it.' (Ann Paul/CBC)
Two women wearing colourful clothing and holding hand drums embrace outside in front of a river.
Barbara's friends were emotional as they presented her with gifts, thanking her for her work as a teacher. (Ann Paul/CBC)

Ann's Eye

Photographer Ann Paul brings an Indigenous lens to stories from First Nations communities across New Brunswick. Click here or on the image below to see more of her work. 

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