Sister Dorothy Moore

Sister Dorothy Moore is a Mi’kmaw educator, Indigenous Elder, Residential School survivor, and social justice activist. She was the first Mi’kmaw person in a Roman Catholic order, entering the Sisters of St. Martha in 1954 and taking vows in 1956. Moore later became the Director of Mi'kmaq Services at the Nova Scotia Department of Education where she was instrumental in the development of the Mi'kmaw language program. She was awarded the Order of Canada and has received numerous other awards including the Order of Nova Scotia and three honorary degrees, including an honorary Doctor of Laws from St. Mary's University in Halifax.

Early Life & Education Moore was born in 1933 in Membertou First Nation in Sydney, Nova Scotia. She attended an Indigenous day school in Membertou during her childhood and later attended the Shubenacadie Indian Residential School where students were prohibited from speaking the Mi’kmaw language.

Moore returned to Membertou and attended a public school in Sydney and met a nun who helped her attend a boarding school in Mabou, Cape Breton. After graduating high school, Moore was inspired to become one of the Sisters of Saint Martha on seeing them teach in Eskasoni First Nation.

Personal life In the documentary Sister Dorothy Moore: A Life of Courage, Determination and Love, Moore described her experiences at residential school, including being punished because she could not understand English to do mathematics. She said the experience left a lasting impression that remained with her throughout her life. Her place within the Sisters of St. Martha and her spiritual identity helped her become a leader, activist, and contribute to society.

A collection of Moore's talks, prayers, presentation, and ceremonies, entitled: A Journey of Love and Hope, was published by Nimbus Press in 2022.

A documentary film entitled Sister Dorothy Moore: A Life of Courage, Determination and Love was premiered at the Atlantic Film Festival in September 2022.

The Sister Dorothy Moore L’nu Resource Centre, located in the Beaton Institute of Cape Breton University, was named in her honour.