Mi'kmaw youth who embody treaty rights celebrated with Unama'ki exhibit

Powerful portraits of Mi'kmaw youth embodying the rights guaranteed in the Marshall Decision, hang side by side on the walls of the Eltuek Arts Centre in Sydney, Unama'ki (Cape Breton).

Living History: 25 Years After the Marshall Decision is a celebration of the 1999 ruling that affirmed the Mi'kmaw right to hunt, fish and earn a "moderate livelihood", a pivotal case in the fight for First Nations rights named after Donald Marshall Jr. from Membertou First Nation.

One of the youth who was featured in the exhibit was the son of Donald Marshall Jr. — also named Donald Marshall — who was also instrumental in collaborating with photographer Steve Wadden to develop the exhibit. 

"The pictures tell the story of how the long term effects of the Marshall decision are what my father had envisioned…. what he fought so hard for: for the future generations of his people not to lose connection to the land, the water, and the culture," Marshall said.

He said when he saw the final versions of the portraits, what stood out most to him was the look of pride in the eyes of the youth.

"It's a look of no longer being ashamed of who they are as Mi'kmaw youth. You can see in their eyes, they value deeply and take great pride in who they are." 

Steve Wadden, an avid fly-fisher and photographer from Glace Bay, N.S., designed this exhibit to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the landmark Marshall Decision. 

Wadden knew Donald Marshall Jr. when he was in his 20's, and they had always intended on taking a fishing trip together to create a project based on Marshall's life and photograph his work on the water. Donald Marshall Jr. died in 2009, before the project had a chance to materialize. 

"I really regretted not doing a project… not pushing harder to do something and I never really let it go," Wadden said.

"To do something in Junior's honour, it's a big responsibility for anyone and I really wanted to make sure that I got it right."

This exhibit honours Marshall's legacy by showcasing Mi'kmaw youth who were selected for the exhibit based on their strong relationship to the traditional rights affirmed in the Marshall Decision.

"For me, it hit a lot of good notes. It's another way to bring attention to the ongoing fight to Indigenous rights for modern livelihood," said Wadden.

"The idea of being connected and caring [for the land] shines through in their photographs."

'So much pride and so much power'

Marshall and Wadden discussed plans for the exhibit over fly fishing, fulfilling the fishing plans that Marshall's father and Wadden had, but sadly never had the chance to experience together.

Marshall said his dad wasn't a fan or cameras or the spotlight, despite his legacy as a prominent Mi'kmaw, and he knew Wadden's project was going in a direction that his dad would appreciate. 

"It wasn't all about my dad. It was about the impacts of the decision and how it impacts the lives of the youth." 

Artistic director for the exhibit, Melissa Kearney, said the show came together very organically and things aligned to make the show a success.  

She said the youth in the exhibit were found through relationship building, word-of-mouth and connecting with people within the community to find Mi'kmaw adept at harvesting, conservation and activism. 

"The images alone… there's so much said in each one. So much pride and so much power," said Kearney.

"I think with the story, with what Donald Marshall fought for it's just going to become even more relevant as the years go by."

The exhibit opened on Sept. 16 and will be featured until Nov. 29.