StFX Honours Long-Standing Relationship with Mi’kmaq Artist Alan Syliboy on Truth and Reconciliation Day

On Friday, September 29th, StFX commemorated the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation with two events on campus. Starting the night was a ceremony and ribbon-tying in Mulroney Hall’s Joyce Auditorium, followed by a concert from Alan Syliboy and the Thundermakers with special guest Morgan Toney in Bloomfield’s MacKay Room.

The ceremony in the Joyce Atrium was emceed by Elizabeth Yeo, Vice President of Students. Among those who spoke were Michelle Peters, a PhD student from Pictou Landing First Nation; Julia Baniak, a third year Human Kinetics student from Muskeg Lake Cree First Nation in St. Albert, AB and president of the StFX Indigenous Student Society; Shyanna Denny, a third year Political Science student from Pictou Landing First Nation; Dr. Andy Hakin, StFX President & Vice Chancellor; Antigonish Mayor Laurie Boucher; Antigonish County Acting Deputy Warden Bill MacFarlane; Paq’tnkek Chief Cory Julien; and StFX Elder-in-Residence Kerry Prosper.

Both StFX students delivered extremely powerful speeches. Ms. Baniak began with some words on how to be an ally, expressing the importance of learning about the land you live on and those who lived there before you. She also noted that students should try to broaden their knowledge and learn about the difference between learning and appropriating. Finishing her speech, Ms. Baniak spoke about the TRC Calls to Action (if you haven’t heard about these, check out this link). Ms. Denny was up next, and delivered a speech about what reconciliation truly looks like and what it means to be the granddaughter of a residential school survivor. Both students stressed the importance of and need for continuous, year-round reconciliation, with Ms. Baniak in particular noting the necessity of continuing the conversation beyond just this one day.

The concert, organized by the German Department and society, celebrates a long-standing relationship between StFX and Mi’kmaq artist Alan Syliboy. Dr. Marlis Lade, a professor in the German Department, organized the concert with the help of her students Gianluca Abrignani, Laurianne Riffault, and Ben James. Dr. Lade explains that the department has known Alan Syliboy since 2017, when German classes first worked on a project with him. Since then, Dr. Lade’s classes have translated three of Mr. Syliboy’s children’s books into German, a project that is greatly enjoyed by students “not particularly because of the translation work, but because of the pleasure of meeting with Alan Syliboy and listening to him.”

In October of 2022, her class decided to write something about Mr. Syliboy himself. “He graciously gave us one afternoon,” Dr. Lade recalls, and “it was one of our most memorable classes. Lively conversation, questions, and responses flew back and forth, pausing to reflect shared laughter–it was inspiring and joyful, food for thought and shared ideas.” Dr. Lade expresses her immense gratitude for her relationship with Mr. Syliboy, stating that “We are so grateful to have had this valuable opportunity to learn more about Alan Syliboy’s upbringing, passion for painting, and deep love for his Mi’kmaq culture and people.”

Late in the summer of 2023, the German classes and society were excited when the opportunity arose to bring Mr. Syliboy back to campus for a concert with his band, The Thundermakers, and their special guest, Morgan Toney, on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. “To share that with the wider StFX community,” says Dr. Lade, “was our way to do something towards reconciliation”.

Alan Syliboy and The Thundermakers consists of members Alan Syliboy (Percussion & Spoken Word), Evan Syliboy (Lead Electric Guitar), Hubert Francis (‘Drum’ from Elsipogtog First Nation), Lukas Pearse (Bassist), Joanne Hatfield (Vocal/Guitar/Keyboard), Aaron Prosper (Vocal/Percussion), and Matt Gallant (Drum Kit) (“Alan Syliboy & The Thundermakers – Alan Syliboy”). The group is very well-known around the East Coast and were nominated for Indigenous Artist of the Year at the 2019, 2021, and 2022 East Coast Music Awards (source: “Morgan Toney, Chloé Breault, Hillsburn and More Win at 2022 East Coast Music Awards" | CBC Music"; Blanch). Their 2019 album, Signal Fire, is available on Apple Music and Spotify.

Morgan Toney, who joined the group as a special guest, is a Mi’kmaq fiddler and singer from We’koqma’q First Nation and Wagmatcook First Nation on Cape Breton Island. His music blends together Mi’kmaq and Celtic traditions, which he dubs “Mi’kmaltic”. Although he is relatively new to the music scene, Toney has been very successful so far, being nominated for Rising Star Recording of the Year and winning Indigenous Artist of the Year and Inspirational Recording of the Year at the East Coast Canadian Music Awards in 2022 (source: “Morgan Toney, Chloé Breault, Hillsburn and More Win at 2022 East Coast Music Awards | CBC Music”). Toney’s music is also available on Apple Music and Spotify.

The concert in the Mackay Room was greatly enjoyed by all who attended and was an important step towards enriching our campus and community further with Mi’kmaq art and culture. It was a great honour to have Alan Syliboy and The Thundermakers, along with Morgan Toney, performing on campus; hopefully it is not the last time they’ll be at StFX! It is safe to say that all of StFX’s events on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation were a success. However, we must remember the words of Ms. Baniak and Ms. Denny and continue to work towards reconciliation every other day of the year, not just on September 30th.

We acknowledge that StFX is located in Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq people.

Works Cited 

“Alan Syliboy & The Thundermakers – Alan Syliboy.” Alan Syliboy, https://alansyliboy.ca/band/. Accessed 1 Oct. 2023.

Blanch, Vanessa. “Elsipogtog Rocker Hubert Francis Receives Lifetime Achievement ECMA.” CBC, 5 May 2019, https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/hubert-francis-elsipogtog-ecma-lifetime-achievement-1.5119681.

“Morgan Toney.” Morgan Toney Music, https://www.morgantoneymusic.com. Accessed 1 Oct. 2023.

“Morgan Toney, Chloé Breault, Hillsburn and More Win at 2022 East Coast Music Awards | CBC Music.” CBC, 5 May 2019, https://www.cbc.ca/music/morgan-toney-chlo%C3%A9-breault-hillsburn-and-more-win-at-2022-east-coast-music-awards-1.6442154.