Dear Family Members,
Finding a way to commemorate the life created for us on PEI has been on my mind for a number of years. When we got together for our reunion in 2010, I did a little research on the paths taken by the Powers and the MacAulays that led to the St. Catherine's farm that unites us all, and I shared what I had learned at our evening meal. The sound system wasn't great and it was boiling hot in the room, so I am not sure how much was communicated that way. Afterwards, I posted the text on the reunion Facebook page, and I got a very favourable response. It felt like many people shared my interest in where we come from.
Since 2008, I have lived and worked in the Canadian Arctic in a mostly Indigenous community. While there, I have been reminded of the things that I learned while talking with my grandfather, George MacAulay, when I was a child. Remember your ancestors. Listen to your elders. Respect the land. Care for others. I thought about the wonderful times he and I had together sitting in the kitchen laughing over old stories. I remember wishing that all my cousins could have that time with him. I was always glad that I got to grow up close by and stay connected to family stories and traditions that way.
When my father, Frankie MacAulay, passed away, I had a moment at the family wake when I noticed and appreciated the kindness and the concern that is always offered by his siblings and their spouses. I thought about the life that they had lived, the last generation to grow up on the small, mixed farms that used to make up rural PEI. It was a way of life that had its restrictions but also its rewards, and someday it will no longer be within living memory.
Finally, when my employer gave me a year of education leave, I was able to take some action on my wish to keep that place and its stories alive, and I found a way to incorporate this mission into my studies.
I started the endeavour by having a series of conversations with my sister, Judy MacAulay, and my niece, Lesley Dickieson. We took some time to talk about what our family and our land mean to us. We agreed that we feel proud to be MacAulays and connected to the beautiful landscape that surrounds us.
From these conversations, the idea of creating "virtual real estate" emerged. Why not create a multi-functional, inter-active, collaborative space where all family members can meet together as if we were sitting around the kitchen table enjoying each other's company in person? Why not see what memories we could inspire through photos, artefacts, and other prompts?
Then, the universe started helping us out. We looked at a MacAulay Family History created by our cousin by marriage, Anna Mullaly, and discovered that this was a storehouse of genealogical and historical information about the MacAulays and the MacIsaacs, the original owners of the farm. Anna must have spent an extraordinary amount of time assembling this history. How generous of her to share a copy upon completion. It is an invaluable resource that we will use in conjunction with other sources of information.
I am also grateful for the work done by Donna MacAulay and Stephen Cook to trace the Powers and MacAulays across the Atlantic.
Next, Richard and Lynda hosted a '"Trunk Show." Judy was kind enough to provide child care, and Lesley and I spent a wonderful evening going through the contents of the family trunk stored at their home. It was like being a kid again, getting to look inside a treasure chest.
The trunk is filled with memorabilia that will take some time to catalogue and archive, but we made a good start that night. That was helped by Richard's efficient and accurate archiving system that he can maintain even while enjoying himself on the job.
The best part of the evening was talking and laughing and sharing stories, funny ones and serious ones too. Our history is rich, and should not be forgotten. Our relationships matter and require attention. That is why I hope that each of you will join us in this space to help us remember a time and a place that has shaped us all. If you look in the Forum, the Blog, and the Contact sections, you will find ways to participate on this web-site.. As time goes on, we may find other means to commemorate and celebrate our shared story.
Pour a cup of tea (or something stronger) and join us in conversation.
With love,
Patricia MacAulay
(Patsy Frankie)