Mi’kmaw leader John Joe Sark remembered as trailblazer who fought for truth and justice | 24CA News
John Joe Sark was being remembered Tuesday as religious chief for the Mi’kmaq who devoted his life to stamping out racism and injustice.
Tributes have been pouring in for Sark ever since he died on Sunday on the age of 77 from issues from diabetes.
Sark’s niece, Julie Pellissier-Lush, stated her uncle led by instance.
“He was willing to take up those fights, to take up those actions, to bring words where they were needed, to make sure that there was positive changes. And it happened … long before, any of these things that are happening now, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, all of these things he had already been working on, he was already instrumental on. He was already trying to bring acknowledgement and recognition to these things that had gone on.”
In the Nineteen Nineties he requested Pope John Paul II for an apology from the Roman Catholic Church for its function in residential faculties.
Two a long time and two popes later, the apology lastly got here.
Sark dropped out of college in Grade 8, saying he’d been the sufferer of racism. He went on to change into one of many first Mi’kmaw graduates from the University of Prince Edward Island and spent the remainder of his life working to finish the racism he confronted as a baby.
Sark helped draft the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
“Keptin John Joe was an extraordinary man who fought hard for decades for the rights of the Mi’kmaq and worked tirelessly to educate people on our true shared history,” stated Chief Darlene Bernard of Lennox Island First Nation.
“He was revered as an advocate, educator, author, father, and friend to many, and we will miss him dearly.”
Almost 30 years earlier than the NFL staff from Washington modified its title, he bought Charlottetown Rural High School to put off the title “Redmen,” in favour of the Raiders.
My honest condolences to the household, mates and group grieving the lack of Keptin John Joe Sark, a tireless and devoted chief for the Mi’kmaq in our house of Epekwitk and throughout Mi’kma’ki. <a href=”https://t.co/cEdVQ76oB3″>https://t.co/cEdVQ76oB3</a>
—@BrianFrancisPEI
When the Confederation Bridge first opened in 1997, Sark stated it ought to be named Abegweit Crossing. Now there are official efforts underway to vary the title.
In a press release, P.E.I. Premier Dennis King referred to as Sark “an ambassador of his people, [who] proudly stood in front of premiers, prime ministers and pontiffs to seek respect and reconciliation.”
When Sark obtained the province’s highest honour, the Order of P.E.I., he returned it in protest, saying MLAs ignored his name to have the title of General Jeffrey Amherst faraway from a nationwide historic web site. Amherst had steered in letters distributing blankets laced with smallpox to Indigenous folks.
“John Joe Sark’s role as a spiritual leader for our people has built a lasting bridge of understanding between cultures,” stated Chief Junior Gould of Abegweit First Nation.
“In his role as guardian of the spiritual and cultural integrity of the Mi’kmaq people, he fought to have offensive stereotypes removed from schools and institutions in Prince Edward Island, his legacy will live on through the many impacts he made.”
