Kepmite'tmnej - The Mi'kmaq Honour Song Kepmite'tmnej ta'n teli l'nuwulti'kw, Nikma'jtut mawita'nej.  Kepmite'tmnej ta'n wettapeksulti'k, Nikma'jtut apoqnmatultinej. Apoqnmatultinej ta'n Kisu'lkw teli ika'luksi'kw  Translation Let us greatly respect and honour our Native people,  My people let us gather. Let us greatly respect and honour our Native ways, My people let us help each other. Helping each other is why the Creator put us here on Mother earth. From the Metepenagiag First Nation (Red Bank), George Paul received Kepmite'tmnej, the Mi'kmaq Honour Song, during a fast in the early 1980's.  This song is said to be a gift from the Creator to the Mi'kmaq people to bring strength, honour, unity and pride to the nation. Brian Knockwood is a proud Mi’kmaq from Indian Brook First Nation and is drum keeper for Eastern eagle. “I would like to thank the Creator for the gifts of voice, drum and song. My inspiration has always come from the drum and the spirit of the people. As well I would like to thank those women who I have shared my heart with over the years and who have given me the inspiration for these songs.” Gubby Paul is from the Waycobah First Nation and is a lobster fisherman. “I was eleven when I picked up my first drum stick, back when powwows were first introduced to our Mi’kmaq country. There is a feeling that comes over a drummer that is hard to explain, we crave it, we feel the music and we long for the heartbeat of the drum. I wrote ‘Smiling Face’ for my love Tonya Francis. Everyday I wake up, with her beside me, a present, a smile, a new journey and her encouragement to continue what I do. David Meuse is from Indian Brook First Nation and a singer with A Tribe Called Mi’kmaq. “The songs that were created through me are inspired by the people and the ways of our Mi'kmaq people. Forever Baby was inspired by Wyonna Patrice Bernard.(My Loving Wyfe) The words of the song describe how much I love her, and the truth of love in the way I feel towards her.” Trevor Gould is from the Paqtnkek Mi’kmaq Nation is a men’s traditional dancer but his first passion is singing powwow. “Memorial Song is dedicated to my father Joey Gould. Brad Paul, my best friend, wrote this song after my father passed, and gave it to me as a gift. Every time we sing this song we sing it for him but we also dedicate and sing it for everyone that has lost someone close to them; a father, a mother, a brother, a sister, or a friend. “ Jennifer Maloney is a Fancy Dancer from Indian Brook First Nation as well as a singer. “Singing is important because through singing not only have I been learning about my culture, I have been learning my language as well. I see and feel the unity created by singing with my brothers and sisters. Chasity Meuse, mother (Justin), jingle dress dancer is from Indian Brook First Nation. Chasity began dancing in support of the work she does in suicide prevention, with continued healing and prayers to our brothers and sisters on Turtle Island. “There are prayers and healing in our songs and dances, and I have been blessed to have always been surrounded by the drum and songs.”