Latest news with #JeffWard
Hamilton Spectator
29-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
‘Everybody's welcome' to large powwow at Cape Breton's Open Hearth Park
SYDNEY - Every First Nation on Cape Breton Island will come together on the weekend of Aug. 8-10 to take part in a Powwow at Open Hearth Park. And we're all invited. 'Everybody's welcome. We invite all people. If you're a human being you're welcome. All nations, all backgrounds. This is a Mawio'mi – that's what it is – a coming together in a good way,' says Jeff Ward, the powwow emcee and executive producer. Ward is also the general manager of the Membertou Heritage Park. 'If it was a rodeo – everybody goes. If it's the North Sydney Exhibition everyone goes.' 'Everyone goes to Ribfest at the very same location as this. If you're all welcome to come to Ribfest – you're all welcome to come to the Mawio'mi.' The annual Membertou Powwow is being held the weekend before on Aug. 1-3, so people living in Unama'ki will have two opportunities to attend a powwow or mawio'mi. Mawio'mi is a Mi'kmaq word increasingly being used as a synonym for powwow. It signifies a cultural gathering, celebration, or powwow where people come together to celebrate traditions, share stories, and connect with their culture. It is an important time of community-building and passing along of traditions to both Indigenous and non-Indigenous. The powwow on Aug. 9-10 is being held as part of the cultural Wi'kipaltimk (we-ga-ball-dim-k) 2025 festival being held that weekend in Sydney. Each of the First Nations communities in Cape Breton – Membertou, Eskasoni, Potlotek, Whycocomagh and Wagmatcook – welcomes the opportunity to host new friends and old friends who will attend this event of joy, dance, song, drums and artistry. FOR FAMILIES Ward stresses that the festival is a true family event. It will include award-winning performers at night; traditional food; drumming and dancing; cultural vendors; and educational workshops and teachings. He says every generation from babies to great-grandparents, will be participating and welcoming others. He hopes people outside the Indigenous communities attend for the cultural learning it will provide. For example, he wants people to listen to the drumming because he knows how much the sound draws people in. 'Everybody that has a heart is connected. That drum – I call it the Big Bang Theory – is the very first sound you heard in your life. It was your mother's heartbeat. That's the beauty of the drum and the secret to spirituality,' Ward says. 'The first teaching of the Mi'kmaq seven teachings is love. It was love that brought you here.' 'The opposite of love is fear. Some people are fearful of coming to our powwow and asking, 'Why does that drum attract me?' They're scared – they know there's something here (and he hits his chest) but they don't realise it's based on love.' GUIDED BY SURVIVORS The festival is being led by Indigenous voices and guided by survivors of Indian Day School. Ward is one of them. He says there has been so much emphasis on the abuse suffered by those who attended Indian Residential Schools that some people may not know about the Indian Day Schools. He says the things that happened there get overlooked. 'People say, 'Well, they got to home every day,' but there were still experiments done to us.' One of the examples he remembers is daily fluoride flushes. 'Why were we doing it every single day? That kind of exposure to fluoride is not healthy.' Another was giving them milk every day, even though it made some of them sick. 'They made sure we had milk every day even though we are lactose intolerant,' he says. (Lactose intolerance is common among the Indigenous population.) When he entered regular school in Sydney for Grade 7, those things stopped because children in regular school didn't have the same treatment. 'It was like the system was set up for us to fail because we weren't prepared,' Ward says. 'We didn't have the same curriculum in Indian Day School as others. Why wasn't it identical when we were going to go to the same universities?' Other survivors have stories from school that traumatized them and changed their lives. Wi'kipaltimk 2025 will honour those who survived Indian Day School by bringing their treatment to light and showing respect by offering them a time of joy, compassion and healing. The entire weekend is an alcohol and drug-free event where intoxication and bad behaviour will not be tolerated by organizers or security guards on duty. This includes the evening concerts featuring some of the best musical talent in Nova Scotia. Headliners include Neon Dreams, the duo that just won the East Coast Music Award for Best Group 2025. Ward is pleased that so many Unama'ki First Nation communities will be coming together to celebrate Wi'kipaltimk 2025 in the same place. 'It's important to honour your local people as much as you can because that's where pride is. You have that sense of belonging by honouring your people.' If You Go Where: Wi'kipaltimk 2025 cultural festival, Open Hearth Park, Sydney When: Aug 8 –10 with Powwow Saturday and Sunday from 12 – 5 p.m. Things to Bring: Bug spray and sunscreen A sun or rain umbrella Bring a chair just in case. There are chairs for elders but bring your own lawn chairs and leave them in the car unless needed. Cameras to take lots of photos Blankets or jackets for evening events An open heart Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
CTV News
03-07-2025
- CTV News
Canada-U.S. tensions could impact annual Mi'kmaw blueberry harvest
In this July 30, 2015 file photo, a blueberry harvester makes its way through a field near Appleton, Maine. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty, files) If fewer Maritimers are visiting the United States these days, that may well include people who live in First Nations communities. 'I am hearing a great discussion of people - our people - not travelling and vacationing in the United States this year,' said Jeff Ward, general manager of the Membertou Heritage Park. Ward said that might include fewer people going south of the border this summer to pick blueberries to be sold back home, which has been a Mi'kmaw tradition dating back generations - particularly, trips to Maine. He said some people have concerns about being held up at the border when crossing back into Canada. 'There's always that issue of being challenged with the Jay Treaty, and it's that kind of issue that our elders - it's instilling fear into our elders,' Ward said. Mi'kmaw educator and lawyer Jarvis Googoo, however, plans to travel to the United States soon - he is registered to run the Chicago Marathon in October. He added that he is not yet aware of many people he knows cancelling trips across the border to pick blueberries. Googoo pointed out, however, that as far as some Indigenous people are concerned there is no border between the two countries. 'Is (a given place) colonially in Canada and the United States?' Googoo asked rhetorically. 'Yes, it is. But, you know, that's 1867 or 1776. I'm talking about thousands of years well before that.' Ward said that while fewer people travelling to the U.S. might mean more visitation - from everyone - to Mi'kmaw communities in the Maritimes this summer, there is another reason from an Indigenous perspective that the current tension between the two countries is regrettable. 'At this time of reconciliation, we want to bring our nations together and work together as one and it feels like it's not happening again,' Ward said. The Mi'kmaw blueberry harvest typically takes place in late summer and into early fall. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
The Hindu
09-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
U.S.-based First Citizens BancShares expands India GCC
First Citizens India, a subsidiary of First Citizens BancShares, Inc., one of the top 20 banks in the United States with more than $200 billion in assets, on Monday said it expanded its India operations by opening a new office in Bengaluru. First Citizens' investment in its new facility recognised India's role as a strategic destination for the bank, the bank said. First Citizens also said expansion reinforced India's role as a premier hub for Global Capability Centres (GCCs) delivering enterprise-wide solutions. With expanded capacity and a collaborative design, the new workplace supports core areas including technology, enterprise operations, finance, cybersecurity, risk management, and credit administration. Jeff Ward, Chief Strategy Officer, First Citizens Bank, who was on a visit to the city said, 'Our decision to expand our footprint in the established hub of Bengaluru allows us to strategically leverage the country's vast talent pool and directly support the long-term commitment to our enterprise vision.' Satya Prakash Ranjan, Country Head & Head of Technology, First Citizens India said, as the bank continued to modernise and scale its technology platforms, the India facility and team here gave it required flexibility and environment needed to deliver enterprise-grade solutions across a variety of functions. First Citizens India would also be hiring additional people to support the expansion activities in India. ``We are hiring and welcoming colleagues to help us deliver business solutions based on the bank's shared values of client-first service, a commitment to excellence, empathy, respect for differences, and forward-looking abilities.'
The Wire
09-06-2025
- Business
- The Wire
First Citizens BancShares, Inc. Deepens Investment in India with Expansion of Global Capability Centre
June 09, 2025, Bengaluru – First Citizens India, a subsidiary of parent company First Citizens BancShares, Inc., today announced that it has expanded its operational capacity with the opening of a new office in Bengaluru—reinforcing India's role as a premier hub for Global Capability Centres (GCCs) delivering enterprise-wide solutions. First Citizens Bank is one of the top 20 banks in the United States, with more than $200 billion in assets and over 17,000 associates worldwide. First Citizens' investment in its new facility recognizes India's role as a strategic destination for the bank. It's GCC, First Citizens India, plays a pivotal role supporting the company's operations. With expanded capacity and a collaborative design, the new workplace supports core areas including Technology, Enterprise Operations, Finance, Cybersecurity, Risk Management, and Credit Administration. The expansion comes amid the bank's continued investment in digital transformation, operational resilience, and building talent to meet evolving client needs. Jeff Ward, Chief Strategy Officer, First Citizens Bank, who is visiting India in celebration of the new office opening, said, 'Our decision to expand our footprint in the established hub of Bengaluru allows us to strategically leverage the country's vast talent pool and directly support the long-term commitment to our enterprise vision.' More than a century old, publicly traded and a member of the Fortune 500 , First Citizens has established a legacy of strength and stability through consistent long-term thinking and disciplined risk management. First Citizens India extends that platform by leveraging the bank's relationship-based, client-centric approach within a high-performing, cross-functional environment. Satya Prakash Ranjan, Country Head & Head of Technology, First Citizens India, shared, 'As we continue to modernise and scale the bank's technology platforms, this facility and our local team give us the flexibility and environment needed to deliver enterprise-grade solutions across a variety of functions. We are hiring and welcome colleagues to help us deliver business solutions based on the bank's shared values of client-first service, a commitment to excellence, empathy, respect for differences, and forward-looking abilities.' This new facility enables teams to thrive in an advanced, digitally-enabled work environment that encourages cross-functional collaboration, continuous learning, and career development. First Citizens aims to build lasting financial security for its key stakeholders. The new Bengaluru office strengthens the bank's operational capabilities and underscores its commitment to supporting the ambitions of its clients, colleagues and communities. About First Citizens India First Citizens India, also known as FC Global Services India LLP, is a subsidiary of parent company First Citizens BancShares, Inc. First Citizens India is a global capability center (GCC) based in Bengaluru that benefits from First Citizens BancShares' legacy of strength and stability over the past 125 years. As an integral part of the First Citizens' Global Services division, First Citizens India is responsible for delivering value and managing risks for our lines of business. The key areas of operations in India include Technology, Enterprise Operations, Finance, Cybersecurity, Risk Management and Credit Administration. About First Citizens BancShares, Inc. First Citizens BancShares, Inc. (NASDAQ: FCNCA) is a top 20 U.S. financial institution with more than $200 billion in assets and a member of the Fortune 500 . Its primary banking subsidiary, First Citizens Bank, helps personal, business, commercial and wealth clients build financial strength that lasts. Discover more at (Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with NRDPL and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.). This is an auto-published feed from PTI with no editorial input from The Wire.
Entrepreneur
09-06-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
First Citizens BancShares Expands in India with New GCC in Bengaluru
You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. First Citizens India, a subsidiary of Nasdaq-listed First Citizens BancShares, Inc., is expanding its presence in India with the opening of a new global capability centre (GCC) in Bengaluru—reinforcing India's role as a premier GCC hub for delivering enterprise-wide solutions. First Citizens Bank is one of the top 20 banks in the US, with more than USD 200 billion in assets and over 17,000 associates worldwide. First Citizens said its investment in the new facility recognizes India's role as a strategic destination for the bank. "It's GCC, First Citizens India, plays a pivotal role supporting the company's operations. With expanded capacity and a collaborative design, the new workplace supports core areas including Technology, Enterprise Operations, Finance, Cybersecurity, Risk Management, and Credit Administration. The expansion comes amid the bank's continued investment in digital transformation, operational resilience, and building talent to meet evolving client needs," the company said in a statement. "Our decision to expand our footprint in the established hub of Bengaluru allows us to strategically leverage the country's vast talent pool and directly support the long-term commitment to our enterprise vision," said Jeff Ward, Chief Strategy Officer, First Citizens Bank. This new facility offers its employees a digitally-enabled work environment that encourages cross-functional collaboration, continuous learning, and career development, the company said. Aimed at building financial security for its key stakeholders, the new Bengaluru office strengthens the bank's operational capabilities and underscores its commitment to supporting the ambitions of its clients, colleagues and communities. Satya Prakash Ranjan, Country Head & Head of Technology, First Citizens India, said, "As we continue to modernise and scale the bank's technology platforms, this facility and our local team give us the flexibility and environment needed to deliver enterprise-grade solutions across a variety of functions. We are hiring and welcome colleagues to help us deliver business solutions based on the bank's shared values of client-first service, a commitment to excellence, empathy, respect for differences, and forward-looking abilities." The worldwide banking, financial services, and insurance (BFSI) industry is expected to hit a market size of USD 25.7 trillion by the end of FY 2025-26, according to a report by GCC enabler Inductus. India's role in fueling this growth is also noted in the report, especially the way it has become a destination of choice for BFSI GCCs. The findings of the Inductus report indicate that Asia-Pacific will become the driving force behind BFSI sector growth globally. In this thriving region, India is a special case of success, with its forward-thinking fintech industry set to grow to a staggering USD 83.48 billion by 2025.
