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.
Bryce Nash has been sober for a while now.
A 21-year-old firekeeper for Sitansisk First Nation, which is also known as St. Mary’s, Nash was about 16 when he decided he wanted to start living a spiritual life and “walk the right road.”
“I had struggled a lot with addiction and mental health. That was a big struggle for me,” he told Ann Paul, also from Sitansisk and a contributor for CBC News.
“But working hard at it, I was able to, not overcome it, but work on it a lot. It’s a lot better now,” Nash said.
“I’m not going to say I still don’t struggle with it — I struggle with it everyday. But I’m learning the tools to be able to help myself with it.”
A firekeeper can have multiple roles within the community, according to Possesom Paul, Ann’s son. That includes ensuring the fire stays lit and that there’s tobacco available for those who want to make offerings.
“Just as much as our spirituality is metaphysical, it’s also physical in the real realm. A firekeeper holds the position of, very importantly, keeping the fire,” he told CBC.
“The fire is the centre point of a lot of our spirituality. It’s where we take our offerings to during ceremonies. The fire is lit, then it runs the whole length of the ceremony, whether it’s a funeral or celebration.”
Nash recently built Ann a sacred fire and spoke about his spiritual journey. Watch the video and scroll through the photos to see more.
Bryce Nash of Sitansisk (St. Mary’s) First Nation decided in his late teens that he would live a spiritual life, using firekeeping and ceremony to help with his sobriety.
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.
