LaHave, NS (July 16, 2009) – Gerald Keddy, Conservative Member of Parliament for South Shore – St. Margaret’s, today visited the Mi'kmaq/Acadian Burial Ground in Petite Riviere where he announced federal funding of $6,400 for the Mi’kmaq and Acadian Festival and Reunion.

“Our Government is proud to support the Mi'kmaq Burial Grounds Research and Restoration Association and its Mi’kmaq and Acadian Festival and Reunion,” said MP Keddy. “By partnering with associations to support activities that celebrate our shared history and our rich cultural diversity, we are fulfilling our government’s commitment to strengthen our communities and support arts, culture and heritage.”

“This money is a great help to our festival and reunion,” said Ellen Hunt, head of the Mi’kmaq Burial Grounds Research and Restoration Association. “Because of this funding, we are able to make our festival and reunion larger as it helps us to promote and share with the general public the heritage and culture of the Mi'kmaq/Aboriginal and Acadian Cultures and traditions. We will be able to have a website, more advertising, a genealogy site, and bring in traditional elders (George Paul) to teach us and others more of our culture and traditions.”

In September 2007, the Conservative Government announced the new Building Communities through Arts and Heritage (BCAH) program to provide Canadians with more opportunities to take part in local activities that present arts and culture and celebrate local history and heritage.

“I would like to take this time to thank the Mi'kmaq Burial Grounds Research and Restoration Association for their hard work in helping to educate our future generations of the rich and diverse Mi'kmaq/Aboriginal and Acadian cultures and traditions here on the South Shore,” said MP Keddy. 

The Mi'Kmaq and Acadian Festival and Reunion is the sixth annual, stand-alone, two-day event organized by the Mi'Kmaq Burial Ground Research and Restoration Association that will take place at the Fort Point Museum, LaHave, Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia from August 21 - 22, 2009. This festival is a cultural exchange and interaction between Acadian people and the Mi'Kmaq people to celebrate their heritage and history of mutual respect and co-operation since the founding of LaHave. The event also serves as a reunion of the descendents of both cultural groups who have traced their origins back to the local area in the early 1600's. Activities include: arts and crafts demonstrations, storytelling, workshops, Mi'Kmaq spiritual ceremonies and traditional music.