Nipissing welcomes new babies

April 30, 2013
Parents Hugh Martel and Mindy Lariviere with Carson and Jacie Martel at Nipissing First Nation’s “Welcoming Babies” ceremony on April 27.
Parents Hugh Martel and Mindy Lariviere with Carson and Jacie Martel at Nipissing First Nation’s “Welcoming Babies” ceremony on April 27.

By Marci Becking

NIPISSING FN – Second-time parents Mindy Lariviere and Hugh Martel say that they come to Nipissing’s “Welcoming Babies” ceremony to celebrate all the new babies that have been born into their community.

“We come to meet the other babies,” says Lariviere who is mom to two-year old Jacie and six-month old Carson.  “New parents get a lot of community support and we also get support from our parents.”

Nipissing First Nation’s Health Services Manager, Kimberly Lalonde, says that spring is a time to honour the new babies.

“We will have water and berry teachings today for the parents of about 20 new babies,” says Lalonde.

Anyone who was born in 2012 was invited – and even some older children of families who have moved back to the community.

George Couchie, OPP Sergeant and Nipissing FN citizen, says that when First Nations communities were healthy, everyone had a role to look after the babies.

“Now, because of the residential schools legacy, we have Elders looking after babies,” says Couchie.  “Our families are unbalanced.  We need to help young families understand that they are responsible for that child.  Common sense and common action are two separate things.”

Nipissing’s Welcoming Babies celebration began in 2001.