From childhood, Laurene Francis Hayward always knew that she was a Native Indian thanks to her father, and her features further confirmed it: facial features, straight black hair, and a tanned skin that became darker in summer.

Yet she knew nothing about her heritage because her parents divorced when she was young, she moved to Bermuda at age 11, and a month later her father died.

In fact, it took the sudden death of her grandmother to launch her quest for cultural identity, which began when she decided to track down some of her relatives and learn more about her heritage.

Searching through some old family documents led to an uncanny first contact with an uncle who was also her godfather. His son Shawn answered the phone and said: “My dad has been waiting for your call. He just knew a few months ago that you were going to call when you were ready to learn about your heritage.”

A meeting was subsequently arranged, and the two met for the first time in April, 1991. She returned to Canada again in June 2001, and subsequently met more relatives at the Eskasoni Reserve on Cape Breton Island.

She also attended her first powwow, which she describes as “a very emotional experience. The drums and dancing were spectacular, and the regalia beautiful. I was even acknowledged for coming all the way from Bermuda to attend”.

From all that followed these visits Mrs. Hayward learned that she is one of 10,599 registered Mi'kmaq Natives in Canada.

“I am a member of the Pictou Landing Band of the Mi'kmaq First Nation hailing from Nova Scotia,” she says. “There are 13 different bands making up our First Nation, and my band has a population of 495, with 355 residing on the reserve and 140 off it. Our chief is Anne Francis Meusse.”

According to what Mrs. Hayward learned, the Mi'kmaq people have inhabited northeastern North America for approximately 5000 to 10,000 years, and a distinction that sets them apart from other First Nations is that in the early 1500s they were the first to encounter the Europeans when they arrived on Canadian shores.

“Many hundreds of years ago the Mi'kmaq were recognised by the French and British as being the greatest fishermen and sailors on Mother Earth, and we were also famous for our exquisite porcupine quill work and intricate basket weaving. Exhibits of our talents can be found in the Museum of Natural History in Halifax, Nova Scotia and the Smithsonian.”

When Mrs. Hayward visited the small reserve of her ancestors in Pictou she found it an unforgettable experience. Born in Boston City Hospital, her birth certificate defined her colour as “Red” (a euphemism for Native Indian) and she had somehow always felt different.

“For the first time in my life I finally felt that I fitted in. I looked like everybody else,” she says. “Everyone knew I was coming and made me feel welcome. It was also the first time my son, Devon, had seen snow. I was only there for four days but did we travel! We drove down to Truro to the Millbrook Reserve, where I met my great uncle, Roddie Knockwood, who remembered me from when I was an infant, and in Darthmouth I met cousin Coreen.”

On a second visit to Mrs. Hayward visited the Eskasoni Reserve on Cape Breton, where she met more relatives including first cousin, Cathy Francis, a school teacher on the reserve, her children Sayyedya, Virick and Viricka, and great uncle Isaac Knockwood.

Today, Mrs. Hayward is keener than ever on her rediscovered heritage, evidence of which is incorporated into her home d?cor and cuisine. It took a visit from another cousin, Sayyedya, to Bermuda to learn how to make dream catchers, which she plans to sell during the St. David's Island Historical Society's Indian Festival, which takes place at the St. David's Island cricket field on June 28 and 29.

“On her last night she showed me how to make the dream catchers,” Mrs. Hayward says. “For some reason it is something I've picked up very quickly, and it seems to be turning into a family affair. My son is now making necklaces, and my husband Tim is doing some of the wrapping of the outer circles for me.”

As to the origin of dream catchers, legend has it that Grandmother Spider, who sang the universe into existence, was saddened by the bad dreams of her human children. She went to the willow and asked for his beautiful branches, and to the eagle for his powerful feathers.

Grandmother bent the branch into a circle connecting all the peoples of the world; she spun her web of wisdom around the branch to catch her children's bad dreams.

Grandmother Sun's morning rays burn away the bad dreams tangled in the web. Any bad dreams that were left were turned into the morning dew. These dreams trickled down the lengths of the feathers and were given to Mother Earth. Grandmother Spider left a centre Spirit Hole for the good dreams to enter and float gently to the sleeper. Thus it is that Mrs. Hayward's creations combine a central, intricately tied web of fine deer gut, anchored to the outer circle, which is wrapped in suede, and incorporating beads and feathers purchased from trading posts at Indian reservations.

She also makes authentic bone and bead necklaces, some incorporating the St. David's colours of gold and blue. All of her designs are original. Indians from four Native American tribes, including the Pequots, will be coming to this year's Festival.

Because St. David's Islanders will be included in the ceremonial opening of this year's Indian Festival, and also in preparation for a forthcoming visit to a powwow in Connecticut this year, St. David's Islander Mrs. Ronnie Chameau has been making woven palmetto and screw palm fans.

Fans are typically used by Indian women in their dances, and are normally of feathers, but Mrs. Chameau felt that the use of local dried materials from Mother Earth would be more appropriate. The fans will also be for sale.

In addition, a specially-designed cotton throw, featuring a tapestry of scenes of St. David's Island in full colour, is a new innovation this year, and will be a fund-raiser for the St. David's Island Indian Association. A sample will be displayed at the Festival.

The throw is the brainchild of researcher, former St. David's Islander and Ohio resident Miss Jean Foggo Simon, and will be made to order in the US. The cost will be $68 (including postage within the US) or $75 (including postage to Bermuda). Order forms will also be available at the Festival.

For further information ( Mr. Brinky Tucker 297-1597, Carmen Welch 297-1890, or Miss Foggo Simon 774-9107 (home), 775-7203 (work) or write to her at MPO Box 9247, Oberlin, Ohio 44074.

For further details on the Indian Festival see today's Bermuda Calendar.