- QUOTES -

"Francis Perry is on a mission. The ... Mi'kmaq from Truro, Nova Scotia, resident is spreading the word about the dangers of drinking during pregnancy.

It wasn't until Perry was 19 years old that he was diagnosed with FAS, which falls under the umbrella of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). Della Maguire, Executive Director of the Mi'kmaq First Nations Healing Society, says the disorder is "a huge problem" for many communities, including many Aboriginal ones, where centuries of oppression and the residential school systems have left a legacy of social ills, including drug and alcohol addiction, and there is a lack of culturally appropriate resources. For Perry, the diagnosis was somewhat of a relief. 'It was like someone lifted a weight off my shoulder,' he says. 'When you don't know what is wrong, you don't have anything to work with.' "

Quon, Anna "The path to Healing",
Abilities, Issue 65, pp.28-32, Winter 2005

"He is a gifted speaker. In his work with Della Maguire and the Mi'kmaq First Nations Healing Society, he speaks to groups including health professionals, police, social workers and students about his experience of growing up with FAS. Says Della Maguire, "I look at Francis as our teacher. He has valuable information to share with our communities."

from Quon, Anna "The path to Healing", Abilities, Issue 65, pp.28-32, Winter 2005

"Francis is a guest speaker for the Mi'kmaq First Nation Healing Society, sharing his knowledge for the programs empowering our communities on FAS/FAE. ... Francis' life story has been highlighted as one of the featured articles produced by the Ontario Federation of Indian Friendship centres. Francis was also featured in a documentary entitled "Reality of a Dream" aired on
Aboriginal Peoples Television network."

Visions Journal, Vol 2 No. 9, 2006