Baskets by Tania Morey

"My name is Tania Maria Morey. My grandparents were Irene and Simon Joseph Morey of Wolastoqiyik Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), and Mary & Donald Sanipass of Elsipogtog and Eskasoni First Nations My parents were Marline & John Morey. Our family is Bear clan, and we have been basket makers for many generations. I have had 5 beautiful children. My oldest in the spirit world is Tiana Rose Peters. My four surviving children, from oldest to youngest, are Mimiques, Gesig, Mishun, and Zi’gwan. I remember spending many of my younger days in the woods of Chapman, Maine. I was only about five years old when, while walking in the woods one day, I could hear a rustling sound coming from the trees. I looked up and asked them if they wanted me to sing to them; their leaves rustled in agreement. As I sang to them, their leaves swayed to and fro. This is my earliest memory of singing with nature. I sing to Mother Earth still. Life has been a tremendous struggle from the day I was born, but I continued to love life; it has been and still is a beautiful journey filled with moments of pain, but even more so, so many moments of pure light and love. I am thankful for every day."