Slain elder Bernard awarded Nova Scotia's highest honour

The Order of Nova Scotia has been posthumously awarded to Nora Bernard, the slain Mi'kmaq elder who led the fight for compensation for residential school survivors.

Bernard was remembered as a strong advocate for native people at an investiture ceremony Wednesday at Province House.

"Nora left a legacy," said Dorothy Moore, chair of the group that decided Bernard was deserving of Nova Scotia's highest award.

"She died but she didn't die, really. She continues to live."

Bernard, 72, was found dead on the floor of her kitchen in Millbrook, near Truro, last December. She had been stabbed and beaten.

Her 24-year-old grandson, James Douglas Gloade, pleaded guilty last month to manslaughter.

Bernard fought an 11-year legal battle to persuade governments to compensate aboriginal people who suffered abuse at Canada's network of residential schools.

Bernard, a resident of the Shubenacadie school from 1945 to 1950, said she was forced to work cleaning and making clothes. Her compensation cheque of $14,000 arrived weeks before her death.

Historian and elder Dan Paul nominated Bernard for the Order of Nova Scotia.

He said her fight against seemingly overwhelming odds deserved recognition.

"When you're taking on several levels of government — the churches and what have you across the country — and you overcome, I think maybe there's not an honour high enough that could be awarded to such a person," said Paul.

Bernard's son Jason accepted the award from Lt.-Gov. Mayann Francis.

Linda Maloney said her older sister would have been delighted to be handed her Order of Nova Scotia.

"She would have been very proud to walk up there and receive this honourable award, and she would have displayed it proudly," said Maloney.

Maloney said her knows her sister was there in spirit.

NHL star Sidney Crosby, community activists Ruth Miriam Goldbloom and Michael Dan MacNeil, and doctors Thomas John (Jock) Murray and Mahmood Ali Naqvi were also recipients of the award.

Crosby will receive his award at a later date.