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New Brunswick·Ann's Eye

Meet Joseph, the oldest Wolastoqey member in New Brunswick

At 97, Sylvester Joseph Bernard of Bilijk still thanks the Great Spirit every day. 

Sylvester Joseph Bernard celebrated his 97th birthday in March

CBC News ·
Two man stand together smiling. The man on the left has gray hair and is wearing a striped shirt. The man on the right is wearing a grey sweater and black hat.
Friends, family and Chief Allan Polchies joined Sylvester Joseph Bernard for his 97th birthday celebration in March. (Ann Paul/CBC)

This is part of a series called Ann's Eye, featuring the work of Ann Paul, a Wolastoqey content creator. You can see more Ann's Eye pieces by clicking here.

At 97, Sylvester Joseph Bernard still thanks the Great Spirit every day. 

He celebrated his birthday on March 20 — Indigenous New Year — at the seniors' centre in Bilijk, also known as Kingsclear First Nation. 

WATCH | See Joseph celebrate his birthday: 

Here's what a birthday party for a 97-year-old elder looks like

11 months ago
Duration 4:17
From hearing Happy Birthday sung in Wolastoqey to displaying a 50-year-old powwow flag, Sylvester Joseph Bernard of Bilijk, also known as Kingsclear First Nation, enjoys his special day.

"The eldest member of our nation," Chief Allan Polchies said at the celebration, where Bernard, who goes by Joseph, pulled out old photographs and shared stories from his life.

CBC contributor Ann Paul joined the birthday party. Scroll through the photos and watch the video to see what she saw.

An old man wearing a grey sweater and black baseball cap blows out candles on a large, white birthday cake.
Joseph, of Bilijk, also known as Kingsclear First Nation, had lots of cake to share. (Ann Paul/CBC)
An old man wearing glasses, a grey sweater and a black baseball cap sits at a table with two large, black-and-white photographs on it.
Joseph is the oldest Wolastoqey member in New Brunswick. (Ann Paul/CBC)
A woman with short, white hair holds up a giant purple flag patterned with suns and moons.
Joseph had this powwow flag, over 50 years old, custom made. (Ann Paul/CBC)
A black-and-white photograph shows several people standing together for a group photo.
Joseph pulled out the old family photographs for his birthday party guests. He's the man on the far left wearing the dashing hat. (Ann Paul/CBC)
Two black-and-white photographs show a man playing a guitar (left) and a man wearing an eagle headdress holding a guitar (right).
Back in the day, Joseph performed under the stage name Hank Eagle. During his birthday party, he often broke out in rhymes — lyrics from his old songs. (Ann Paul/CBC)
Five adults and a young girl stand together for a group photo.
Joseph's family celebrated his birthday with him. (Ann Paul/CBC)
A man wearing a grey sweater and black baseball hat opens a blue card.
Joseph left home at 14 and eventually became a performer. He says there wasn't much Indigenous culture at the time. 'I didn't like it. I brought it back.' (Ann Paul/CBC)
A white, rectangular cake with colourful candles made of frosting reads Happy Birthday.
Before Joseph blew out the candles, his friends and family sang Happy Birthday in the Wolastoqey language. (Ann Paul/CBC)

Ann's Eye

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

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