Nova Scotia Heritage Day Celebrates Rita Joe

Celebrated the third Monday in February, Nova Scotia Heritage Day is an annual reminder of our storied past and an opportunity to honour the remarkable people, places and events that have contributed to this province’s unique heritage.

The 2023 Honoree is Rita Joe.

The Honourable Rita (Bernard) Joe, a member of the We’koqma’q First Nation and author, is often described as the Poet Laureate of the Mi’kmaq people. Her works focused on Indigenous culture and the impacts of residential schools in Canada, and she was instrumental in paving the way for other Mi’kmaq authors.