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See how a baby is welcomed into a First Nations community

CBC's Ann Paul joined St. Mary's First Nation for a placenta burial and spirit name-giving ceremony. Watch a video and scroll through these photos to see what she saw.

Inside a placenta burial at St. Mary's First Nation

Ann Paul CBC News Posted: Dec 03, 2022 5:00 AM EST | Last Updated: December 3, 2022

First photo: A mother smiles down at a baby she's cradling in her arms. Imelda Perley, an Indigenous Elder, stands next to her, also smiling down at the baby. Second photo: Two mothers stand outside, each smiling down at a baby in their arms. — Elder Imelda Perley is reviving the traditions of placenta burial and spirit name-giving ceremonies at St. Marys First Nation. (Ann Paul/CBC)

When a baby is on the way in St. Mary's First Nation in New Brunswick, the community gets ready to welcome the child.

But there are some traditions that Elder Imelda Perley wants to bring back.

Giving a child a spirit name is one of them. On a weekend this fall at St. Mary's First Nation, also known as SitansiskFirst Nation,the community held a ceremony to revive this aspect of their culture.

The community and family also held a placenta burial ceremony, which is a way to honour the ancestors.

WATCH | Elder Imelda Perley performs a placenta burial to honour the ancestors:

Anns Eye: Elder Imelda Perley on Wolastoqey doula training, placenta burial

2 years ago

2:37

This baby is going to belong to the whole community: How St. Marys First Nation celebrates a birth and honours a promise to the past.

"It's quite moving to know that we're maintaining our cultural rights by doing these ceremonies and not just making it a hospital visit," Perley said.

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She's also sharing her knowledge with women interested in becoming doulas, who support the mother and help the family prepare for the placenta burial and spirit name-giving ceremony.

The emphasis on community involvement is so the parents know they're not alone in raising their child.

"It's really important that we nurture our women who are bringing these amazing babies into our community," Perley said.

CBC contributor Ann Paul joined the community for the placenta burial and spirit name-giving ceremony. Watch the video below and scroll through the photos to see what she saw.

Women in long skirts line up outside a sweat lodge. — Community members, doulas, family and friends gather outside a sweat lodge, where the parents or caregivers will take the baby. (Ann Paul/CBC)

Elder Imelda Perley stands outside, bending over a basket, also called a sacred bundle. Behind her are the sweat lodge and sacred fire. — Elder Imelda Perley gathers her sacred bundle. For this ceremony, she is the one who gives the children their spirit names. (Ann Paul/CBC)

A woman in a denim jacket and long, multi-coloured skirt stands outside, warming her hair over a sacred fire. Behind her is a sweat lodge. — A sacred fire burns outside the sweat lodge. Every ceremony has a sacred fire so community members can offer tobacco. Smoke goes up to the Creator, taking their prayers. (Ann Paul/CBC)

WATCH | Elder Imelda Perley performs a placenta burial to honour the ancestors:

Elder Imelda Perley stands outside next to a bench, holding her basket. Two men, one in jean shorts and a black hoodie and one in green pants and a red sweater, stand with her. — Robbie Tomah (middle) was the fire keeper for the ceremony. He prepared the sacred fire by the sweat lodge and tended to it. Mason Paul (right) was the photographer for the placenta burial and name-giving ceremony. Imelda Perley, who works at the University of New Brunswick, wanted to document the event. (Ann Paul/CBC)

Elder Imelda Perley is writing on a large, upright piece of paper. She wears black glasses and a yellow shirt that says Wolastoqey. — Women in the St. Marys First Nation community who are interested in becoming a doula, who works with and supports the mother throughout pregnancy and birth, were able to learn from the teachings of Elder Imelda Perley. (Ann Paul/CBC)

A group of women sit in chairs around a plastic table. They're focused on Elder Imelda Perley, who's sitting with them at the head of the table. — These women in our community are doing an amazing job in the reclamation of our cultural foundation, which every child needs, Imelda Perley said. (Ann Paul/CBC)

On the left is a multi-coloured, hand-made piece of swaddling cloth called a moss bag. On the right, two women sit at a table sewing. — The women learning about becoming doulas and placenta burial also received a lesson on making whats called a moss bag (left). Ann Paul says this is because of a tradition where long ago, when babies didnt have diapers, caregivers would use soft moss instead. In some First Nation communities, every family that uses a doula will receive a moss bag for their child. (Ann Paul/CBC)

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Photographer Ann Paul brings an Indigenous lens to stories from First Nations communities across New Brunswick.Click hereor the image below to see more of her work.

A graphic drawing shows an Indigenous woman holding a camera up to her eye. — (CBC News Graphics)

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See how a baby is welcomed into a First Nations community

Inside a placenta burial at St. Mary's First Nation

Anns Eye: Elder Imelda Perley on Wolastoqey doula training, placenta burial

Ann's Eye

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