Friendship that overcomes borders

This October, staff from Mano en Mano and the Maine Department of Education traveled to the community of Eskasoni in Cape Breton Nova Scotia to visit with local schools and teachers.

Eskasoni, derived from the Mi'kmaq word "We'kwistoqnik"meaning, "where the fir trees are plentiful,” is one of 5 Mi'kmaq communities in Cape Breton,  and is the largest Mi'kmaq community in the world (learn more about Eskasoni here).  Each summer, folks from Eskasoni travel to Maine to take part in the wild blueberry harvest.  Mano en Mano supports families with young children at the Blueberry Harvest School, where we provide culturally relevant educational and enrichment activities that center and celebrate all students.

Mary Marshall, has been a leader and teacher at the Blueberry Harvest School for almost 40 years, coordinated the trip and planned visits to 3 schools and multiple sites around Eskasoni. The team visited the Eskasoni Elementary & Middleschool, the Allison Bernard Memorial Highschool, and the Essissoqnikewey Siawa'sik-l'nuey Kina’matinewo’kuo’m Immersion School.  At each school, the team was given a tour by teachers and administrators and learned about each school's students and academic curriculum.

Executive Director Juana Rodriguez Vazquez says,

“Trips like these are so important to us, because we want our community to know that we are here for them not only in the summer, but year round!  We also want to continue building relationships and  learn from community leaders about how to serve our students better, so they feel safe, cared for and celebrated at the Blueberry Harvest School. Listening deeply to our community and continuing our learning is so important to our work, and we are excited to welcome students back this coming summer.”

 During the trip interested teachers were invited to learn more about working at the Blueberry Harvest School, and were able to ask questions and learn more about the schools values and structure.

Aside from the schools, Mary coordinated visits to local restaurants, church, health center and the powwow grounds so that the team could become familiar with Eskasoni and learn more about the community our students come from.

Planning for the 2023 Blueberry Harvest School will begin this coming January, and we will continue to center programming around celebrating each student's unique identity and culture. 

Do you want to learn more about the Blueberry Harvest School? 

Visit our website to learn more.