Interview with Anita Joseph, winner of the New Brunswick Human Rights Award [video]

Anita Joseph of Elsipogtog First Nation was recently awarded the 2025 New Brunswick Human Rights Award. NB Media Co-op volunteer Anna-Leah Simon caught up with the respected Elder for an interview on Friday.

Listen to the full Q&A with Anita Joseph: 

For the past five years, Joseph has been part of a research study called Eimeg tan tleiaoltieg, which aims to help Elders continue to live in their own homes as long as possible. This work involves interviewing Elders in Mi’kmaq, their first language.

Asked what she learned from those interviews, she said: “Some of them were lonely in their own house, some of them were mistreated. Actually, some of them were living in houses that weren’t wheelchair accessible… so it was hard for them, and we learned what they needed.”

She noted that many want a nursing home in their own community, where they can speak their own language and practice their own culture. “I really would love to see an Elders’ home built in Elsipogtog,” she said. “That would be wonderful.”

Joseph is also part of Elsipogtog’s restorative justice committee, and she offers end-of-life care to people in the community with prayers in Mi’kmaq.

She recalled how, as a child, she would help her aunt comfort Elders dying at home. “I guess I learned from there that it’s important to die with dignity.”

In this interview, Joseph reflected on her experiences and expressed surprise about being honoured with the award. “It was an eye-opener for me,” she said.

Interview by Anna-Leah Simon, a student at St. Thomas University and a member of Elsipogtog First Nation. Editing and production by NB Media Co-op staff reporter David Gordon Koch. This reporting has been made possible in part by the Government of Canada via the Local Journalism Initiative.