By Bernard Perley, President of CASCA

Kwey psiw te wen. Hello, everyone.

After our meeting in Montreal for the CASCA annual conference, I found that the theme of “confluences” was fitting for places, peoples, species, and diverse possibilities. I am originally from Nekutkuk (Tobique First Nation) in Wabanakiw (the Land of the Dawn). My ancestral land lies at the confluence of the Tobique and Saint John rivers. There’s an incredible story behind the origin of the name Tobique. It involves our cultural hero Kaluskap and the Devil. Believe me, it’s a wild story. Why was the Saint John River named after Saint John? That’s a mystery to me. We call the river Wolastok, which means “peaceful waves.” There are days when the river looks as smooth as a mirror. As a community, we’ve been called by other Maliseet, but we call ourselves wolastokwiyik, the people of the river with “peaceful waves.” This brief discussion of the currents and eddies at the confluence of the Tobique and Saint John rivers illustrates the importance of the theme of our annual conference.

CASCA is fundamentally concerned with confluences—the meeting or merging of peoples, experiences, and ideas. As anthropologists, we welcome the exchange of ideas and perspectives that may seem divergent. In doing so, we can identify mutually beneficial paths that honor and respect difference while envisioning common goals and interests. Often, our convergences create turbulence and perplexity. For example, how did the Devil and Saint John infiltrate the ancestral currents of Wolastokwi life? How have colonial languages and ideas erased Indigenous languages, place names, narratives, and lived experiences from their ancestral lands? Today, how do the various currents of our collective experience contribute to the mixing and turbulence of lives, beliefs, and practices that continue to pose challenges for meaningful reconciliation and a sustainable future for all? Anthropology has navigated these turbulent currents since its inception. Each generation poses new challenges, and each subsequent generation brings new perspectives and new questions. We continued this commitment in Montreal at the CASCA conference. I was delighted to hear your reflections on our collective future.

This is my final thought for the newsletter Culture as president of CASCA. The currents and waves that dominate our conversations often respond to immediate crises or pressing issues of the moment. The slow violence of colonialism continues to weigh heavily on our daily lives. The Confluences conference provided an opportunity to bring these currents to our attention so that our disciplinary commitment to the social sciences can contribute knowledge and raise awareness about the structural inequalities that continue to harm the health and well-being of vulnerable members of our communities. I would like to thank the CASCA conference planning committee for conceiving and organizing such a stimulating conference, which equips us all to continue the essential work of research, engagement, and transformation that lies at the heart of CASCA. It has been a true honor to serve CASCA members as president over the past year, and I look forward to working with all of you as we make CASCA an essential part of our conversation toward truth and reconciliation.

Wisoki wants to go there, but he can't.

Bernie

Photo description: Bernie and the Cree Bear