Written by Vicky Messervey
Nora Bernard Street
Huh.That's a relatively new sign, isn't it?
Just last year, Nora Bernard Street became a part of the Halifax North End landscape. But who is Nora Bernard? Why was a street named after her? Let's take a moment to get to know this brave Mi'kmaw woman who took on the Canadian government in her fight for justice.
At Home in Millbrook
Nora Madeline Bernard was born on September 22, 1935, in Millbrook--a First Nations Reservation just outside of Truro, Nova Scotia. She was delivered by her grandmother and was the second oldest child of Michael Joseph Bernard and Mary Louise (nee Cope). Her father was originally from Prince Edward Island but came to Nova Scotia by way of Newcastle, New Brunswick. Nora's mother was also from the Millbrook Reserve. Michael and Mary Louise were married in Truro on May 12, 1933, at the Church of the Immaculate Conception. On their marriage certificate, Michael is listed as a labourer and Mary Louise as a nursemaid. Unfortunately, Michael and Mary Louise's marriage ended in separation when Nora was young.
Becoming "Civilized"
In 1945, when Nora was nine years old, she was sent to the Shubenacadie Indian Residential School. Residential Schools were created by the Canadian government and operated by the Catholic Church as part of a national policy to eradicate Indigenous languages and cultures across the country. The Shubenacadie Residential School was built in the 1920s and began accepting students in 1930. The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Halifax initially managed the school, but later fell under the administration of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. The Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul arranged the teachers and other school staff. Children from across the Maritimes and Quebec were brought to the Shubenacadie School.
As was the case for many students, attendance at the school was not a choice, but a threat. officials told Mary Louise that if she did not sign the consent forms to send her daughter to the school, Nora would be taken away by child welfare. Her siblings were also forced to attend.
At the school Nora and her fellow students "...were subjected to a daily routine that involved hard labour to maintain the school while facing harsh punishments, malnutrition, poor healthcare, nutritional experimentation, neglect, the deliberate suppression of their cultures and languages, and physical, emotional, and sexual abuse" (Former Shubenacadie Indian Residential School National Historic Site, Parks Canada). Nora often acted as a protector for other children at the school. Nora's sister Linda remembers well: "Nora took care of things when my dad left us, and she never stopped... If she saw any of us being handled roughly, she fought the nuns... If she was in the kitchen, she'd get food for my youngest brother, Albert. I recall beatings, but nothing like Nora. She suffered for all of us." (Aboriginal Multi-Media Society). Nora was forced to endure the school for five years.
When she left the school, the nuns told Nora to 'become civilized' and 'marry a man in uniform.' (Gloade, National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, pg. 63). In 1955, Nora met and married a non-Native man from Truro who was a member of the armed forces. "On their wedding day... she even took him in his uniform back to the residential school to show the priest and the nuns, these ones that beat her, that she 'became civilized,' and she took him there almost like a trophy, I guess, to prove to them that she was somebody." (pg. 64) When asked by Chronicle Herald reporter Peter Duffy why she chose to marry a non-Native man, Nora shrugged and stated: "I was trying to better myself. I was thinking that, by marrying a non-native, that life would be easier for me" (Chronicle Herald, p. B4). However, this 'civilized' marriage came with yet more violence for Nora. Her husband was an alcoholic who physically assaulted her on multiple occasions. After thirteen years, they divorced. This 'man in uniform' abandoned the family, and Nora and her children were left to fend for themselves.
After Nora's marriage ended, she worked hard to support her children as a taxi driver. Times were tough, but as much as she struggled financially, she often found ways to support other people around her. Her daughter, Natalie, recalls another mother in the community who was struggling: "She mentioned to mom that she didn't have Pampers for her baby and mom went right out and bought her some even though she was a single mom herself and raising six kids. That's how she was. She shared everything she had. And she always stuck up for people who couldn't help themselves" (Aboriginal Multi-Media Society). Nora was known for being kind, gentle, and humble, but these qualities did not make her weak. She was confident, spoke the truth, and wasn't afraid to fight the good fight.
A Warrior Unleashed
In addition to the physical abuse she suffered in her marriage, Nora was dealt additional misfortune by the Canadian Government.
Decades before Nora was brought into the world, the Canadian Government passed the Indian Act. Established on April 12, 1876, this Act established laws and regulations surrounding reserve land and First Nations governments, as well as rules regarding Indian Status. The underlying purpose of the Act was to "eradicate First Nations culture in favour of assimilation into Euro-Canadian society" (Canadian Encyclopedia). Under the Act, one's Indian Status could be removed in multiple ways: "Until 1951, the Indian Act forced many Status Indian men and women to "enfranchise" - give up status rights for citizenship rights. Gaining the franchise, joining the military, obtaining a college degree or becoming a professional automatically resulted in the loss of Indian Status. In addition, any Status Indian who resided outside of Canada for five years or longer resigned his or her status." Another way that Indian Status was taken away was through a specific attack on women. Due to amendments made to the Act in 1951, if a Status woman married a non-Native or non-Status man, her Status was subsequently taken away. The same ruling did not apply to Status men. Nora lost her Status, and even members in Millbrook considered her an outsider now. When she attempted to move back onto the reserve following her divorce, she was turned away: "I was told no, 'Because you're a white woman.' My own native brothers!" (pg. B4). Nora found a house where she could live as close to the reserve as possible: "She lived 37 feet from where she was born and raised on the reserve, but she didn't belong. From her house, she could see the sign for the reserve, but she was no longer a member" (Aboriginal Multi-Media Society). In the eyes of the government, the system worked. Nora had been assimilated, at least on paper, and she was one less person to worry about.
Little did they know that Nora hadn't even begun to make herself known.
After losing Indian Status, many First Nations people become disconnected from their community and their culture. Nora refused to lose this connection and started an uphill battle to regain her Status as a First Nations woman. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, enormous pressure was placed on the federal government to make amendments to the Indian Act on the grounds of gender discrimination. If a Status man married a non-status woman, he did not lose his rights; so why should it be different for a woman? The movement to make changes to the Act gained national and international attention, and as the pressure mounted the Canadian government conceded. In 1985, Bill C-31 came into effect, allowing women to apply to have their Status restored. Nora applied, but her application was denied. She continued to fight until her status was finally reinstated in 2006, decades after it had been taken away. Nora also spent years petitioning the Millbrook Band to reinstate her as a member. A vote was held, and she became an official member of the Band once again after thirty-eight years.
Although it was exhausting, Nora's fire did not burn out while she worked to have her Status and Band membership reinstated. If anything, the fire grew stronger.
Nora had not forgotten what had happened to her and the other children at the Shubenacadie Indian Residential School. The Canadian Government and the Catholic Church knowingly placed them in danger. The students carried with them the racism, the abuse, and the neglect that they suffered; in many cases, people turned to drugs and alcohol to numb the pain. Nora worked with many of them as a counsellor to help ease their pain. She began a support group for survivors and founded the Shubenacadie Indian Residential School Association (SIRSA). What happened to them at the Shubenacadie Residential School was wrong, and that needs to be acknowledged. With Nora serving as president, the SIRSA decided they would take the matter to court.
In 1995, Nora began contacting local lawyers looking for support. "She had worked her way down a very long list until she finally got in touch with me, and I agreed to go up and meet with Nora, and the other members of her group," said lawyer John McKiggan of McKiggan Hebert (McKiggan, APTN News). Nora and the SIRSA sought compensation from the Government of Canada and the Roman Catholic Church. "No one had filed a class action on behalf of everyone from a school, and no one had ever filed a claim for loss of language and culture. So I told Nora it had never been done before, I didn't know whether we could do it, but of course her answer was 'Does that mean we can't?'"
Nora, the SIRSA, and McKiggan may have been the first to file a lawsuit for Residential School Survivors, but they weren't the last. Their fight for justice prompted others across the country to do the same. In time, they banded together to form a National Class Action. After fighting in court for twelve years, a decision was made: the over 70,000 Residential School Survivors would be compensated with upwards of five billion dollars. Although the money was an important way to recognize what had happened to Nora and the other survivors, many former Residential School students wanted something more - an apology.
On June 11, 2008, Prime Minister Stephen Harper spoke to the House of Commons and issued a formal apology to the children who had been sent to Residential Schools:
The Government now recognizes that the consequences of the Indian Residential Schools policy were profoundly negative, and that this policy has had a lasting and damaging impact on Aboriginal culture, heritage, and language. ... The burden of this experience has been on your shoulders for far too long. The burden is properly ours as a Government, and as a country. There is no place in Canada for the attitudes that inspired the Indian Residential Schools system to ever prevail again. You have been working on recovering from this experience for a long time and in a very real sense, we are now joining you on this journey. The Government of Canada sincerely apologizes and asks the forgiveness of the Aboriginal peoples of this country for failing them so profoundly.
Government of Canada
But Nora would not be present in Ottawa to hear these words, or even at her home near the Millbrook Reserve watching Prime Minister Harper speak on television.
Tragedy
By late 2007, Nora had regained her Indian Status. She had also been welcomed back into the Millbrook Band and was waiting to hear about placement in housing on the Reservation. She had received her portion of the lawsuit, a total of $14,000. It should have been a time of celebration, but instead, it became one of sorrow.
On December 26, 2007, Nora's grandson James Douglas Gloade came to her home. James suffered from drug addiction, and he came to the house to ask Nora for money. She offered him twenty dollars, and he left. However, a few hours later, James returned, looking for more. When Nora said no, James violently attacked her.
Nora was murdered that night. She died at the age of seventy-two.
The aftermath of Nora's death threw the family and the greater community into chaos. Overnight, they had lost a trailblazer, a fighter, and a hero:
--"[She was] the one person I know I could always go to... the one person who was cheering me on. ... When she died that night, a piece of me died too."
- Danielle, Nora's granddaughter, CTV news
"Nora was an incredible woman. She was a kind and gentle person. She had a giving heart and a great deal of inner strength."
-- John McKiggan, Lawyer, A Tribute to Nora Bernard
"She was very tenacious. Determined. Strong. Warrior woman."
-- Doreen, Residential School Survivor, APTN News
"Nora was our voice until such time as we could speak for ourselves. ... Nora will live forever in our hearts. I wish her spirit a safe and fast journey to the spirit world."
-- Amber, Residential School Survivor, Chronicle Herald
"She was a very, very incredible Mikmaw warrior... She was our matriarch, and still, to this day, she will always be my own matriarch."
-- Natalie, Nora's daughter, Saltwire
Nora meant many things to many people. Those who knew and loved her, those who followed her legal journey in the news, and even those who admired her determination and grit from afar wanted to recognize her contributions to the community. How do you honour a woman who has done so much for others?
The Finishing Lines
In 2008, Nora Madeline Bernard was posthumously awarded the Order of Nova Scotia - the highest honour that can be granted at the provincial level. The ceremony was held at Province House in Halifax, and Nora's grandson Jason Bernard accepted the award from Lt.-Gov. Mayann Francis on her behalf. Nora's sister Linda said that Nora would have displayed the award proudly and knows that Nora was at the ceremony in spirit.
In 2023, Halifax's Cornwallis Street was renamed Nora Bernard Street. Cornwallis Street was named after former Governor Edward Cornwallis, a historical figure fraught with controversy, particularly in regards to the treatment of Indigenous people. A survey to choose the new name for the street took place, and Nora received the greatest number of votes. At the renaming ceremony, Nora's daughter Natalie said: "It's incredible, it means so much... This is history, this is a historical event," (CTV). CTV reporter Jonathan MacInnis reported that the Millbrook First Nation would be looking to recognize Nora and her impact further. Chief Bob Gloade stated that plans were in place to name a building after her and to build a statue in her honour.
One year later, Chief Gloade was true to his word. In 2024, the Millbrook Community Hall was renamed the Nora Bernard Community Centre. "Whenever you hear Truth and Reconciliation, you must remember Nora Bernard," said Chief Gloade (Saltwire) to the nearly one thousand spectators at the ceremony.
This February, Nora will be recognized as the 2025 Nova Scotia Heritage Day Honoree. Heritage Day began in 2015 as a way for Nova Scotians to acknowledge and appreciate important people and places in the province's history. Past honourees have included Viola Desmond, Joseph Howe, Africville, and Grand Pré. Heritage Day 2025 will be observed on Monday, February 17.
The people who knew Nora - who knew how hard she worked and were inspired by her determination - do not want her to be forgotten. It is important that her legacy live on in our collective memory to remind us to be kind, to be strong, and to stand up for what's right.
Sources
Library Sources
- "$2B residential school deal a start, Knockwood says", Stewart, Jennifer, Halifax Chronicle Herald, November 24, 2005, p. A1
- "Bernard wins back birthright", Duffy, Peter, Halifax Chronicle Herald, May 5, 2007, p. B4
- "Grandson charged with murder of activist Bernard", Tutton, Michael, The Daily News, January 2, 2008, p. 5
- "Tributes to Nora Bernard flowing in; Residential school survivor: Activist was 'our voice'", Von Kintzel, Cathy, The Sunday Herald, December 30, 2007, p. A5
Additional Sources
Bernard: Few Knew of the Abuse, Chronicle Herald, 2006
Cornwallis Street officially renamed in honour of residential school survivor Nora Bernard, CBC
Former Shubenacadie Indian Residential School National Historic Site
Halifax street renamed after Mi'kmaq activist and 'unsung hero' Nora Bernard, Global News
The Indian Act, The Canadian Encyclopedia
The Indian Act, Legal Aid Saskatchewan
Indian Residential Schools, Daniel Paul
Indian Status, The Canadian Encyclopedia
July First Twenty-Twenty-One, a poem by Chad Norman, The Nova Scotia Advocate
Man who killed Mi'kmaq activist Nora Bernard back in custody after release, CBC
Millbrook Community Hall renamed after Mi'kmaw activist Nora Bernard, Saltwire
Murder of N.S. native activist Nora Bernard by grandson splits family, Saltwire
Native hero killed over $20 for drugs, MacLean's
Nora Bernard's grandson charged with her murder, The Nation Archives
Nora Bernard's grandson sentenced to 15 years, CTV News
Nova Scotia Heritage Day, 2025 Honouree Nora Bernard
Order of Nova Scotia Recipients - 2008
Residential school apology translated into 7 Indigenous languages, CBC
Residential Schools and the women who started the road to justice for survivors, APTNNEWS
Add a comment to: Street Smart: Nora Bernard Street