Mi’kmaq Studies 10

Introductory Unit

The Mi’kmaq: Who Are They?

The Native people of Nova Scotia all belong to the Mi’kmaq tribe.

At the time of first contact with the European explorers in the 16th and 17th century they lived in what we now call the maritime provinces and the Gaspe peninsula.

The Mi’kmaq: Who Are They?

Later they also settled in New England and Newfoundland.

The Mi’kmaq called themselves L’nu’k – the people

The term Mi’kmaq comes from their word nikmak - my kin friends

Mi’kma’ki - the homeland of the Mi’kmaq.

The Mi'kmaw Nation has lived and occupied the area now known as the Atlantic Provinces and the southern Gaspè Peninsula since time extending beyond the reach of memory, record, or tradition.

Traditional and archaeological findings from both the Debert site in Colchester County and the Red Bridge Pond site in Dartmouth have given evidence of Mi'kmaw presence in and around the area for more than 10,500 years.

Mi'kmaw people depended on the land for their sustenance and as such were a nomadic people

lived and travelled throughout Mi'kma'ki according to the time of year and the seasonal pattern.

Mi'kma'ki was divided into seven districts:Kespukwitk, Sipekni'katik, Eskikewa'kik, Unama'kik, Epekwitk aq Piktuk, Siknikt, and Kespek. travel throughout Mi'kma'ki was based on

respect for those whose hunting territory one may be travelling through. (maintained orderly conduct and good relationships between families)

First Nation(s) - people who are the descendants of the original inhabitants of Canada.

- Came into use in the 1970s to replace the word ‘Indian,’ a term that many people found offensive.

Aboriginal means existing from the beginning.

- Includes Métis, Inuit, and First Nations, regardless of whether they live in Canada and regardless of whether they are registered under the Indian Act of Canada.

The Mi’kmaq: Wigwam

Could be built in a day and were put up by women

Five spruce poles lashed together at the top with split spruce root and spread out at the bottom. Braced just down from the top with a hoop of moosewood shorter poles offered support to the birch bark cover.

Birch bark sheets were laid over the poles starting from the bottom and overlapping as they worked up the wigwam. Birch bark was used because it was waterproof and portable.

The Mi’kmaq: Wigwam

Top was left open for smoke to escape

A separate bark collar covered the top in bad weather

Floor was lined with fir twigs, woven mats and animal fur

A large hide acted as the door

Painted with figures of animals and birds

The largest wigwam housed 12-15 people (for larger families a longer style with two fireplaces was built)

The Mi’kmaq: Wigwam

1930 St. Anne's Day, Chapel Island, Nova

Scotia

                                              

      

The Mi’kmaq: Clothing

Made from the skins of mammals, birds and fish.

The skins were tanned by using animal brains, bird livers and oil and by smoking.

Bone awls were used to make holes for sewing and animal sinew was separated into fine strands for thread.

Decorated with geometric patterns and designs of birds, beasts and humans

The Mi’kmaq: Clothing

Pigments used for painting were red and yellow ochre from the earth, charcoal and ground white shells. These were mixed with fish roe or birds’ egg yolk.

Decorated with animal teeth, claws, bone and quills were sewn into clothing.

Feathers were sometimes used as ornaments

The Mi’kmaq: Tools

Made from animal bone, ivory, teeth, claws, hair, feathers, fur, leather, quills, shells, clay, native copper, stone, wood, roots and bark.

For example axes – made from grinding stone to a sharp edge and a smooth surface.

These tools were in turn used to cut and carve wood – fine carving was done with beaver teeth

The Mi’kmaq: Transportation

The Mik’maq canoe was wide bottomed and raised at both ends with the sides curved upwards in the middle.

This design allowed them to canoe far out to sea as well as in shallow streams and even in rapids

Birch bark over a light wooden frame that is 3-8 meters long

Could carry several hundred pounds but was light enough for one person to carry

Toboggans were used in the winter to carry heavy loads over the snow

Mi’kmaq: Transportation

1870-1885 caMi'kmaq ocean-

going canoe

The Mi’kmaq: Food The Mi’kmaq spent about all but six weeks along the sea

coast

Salmon, sturgeon, porpoises, whales, walrus, seals, lobster, squid, shellfish, eels and seabirds and their eggs made up the bulk of their diet.

They also ate moose, caribou, beaver, and porcupine as well as smaller animals like squirrels.

Berries, roots and edible plants were gathered during the summer

Meat and fish were dried and smoked to preserve them

The Mi’kmaq: Pastimes

Storytelling – stories could last several days and included singing, dancing and feasting.

Everyone smoked – tobacco made from red willow bark, bearberry leaves and native tobacco plants.

Waltes was a favorite dice game (played today)

Contests of running, wrestling and shooting

Various ball games

Link to aboriginal games involving math: http://mathcentral.uregina.ca/RR/database/RR.09.00/treptau1/

Mi’kmaq: Cultural Survival

All cultures and societies change over time.

However, few peoples have faced the deliberate and systematic attacks on their culture that the Mi’kmaq people have endured.

The very survival of the Mi’kmaq language and culture is a testimony to the strength of the Mi’kmaq and their oral traditions, values and customs.

Mi’kmaq: Our Stories

Storytelling has been an important way of teaching and learning in First Nations communities.

Oral tradition provides cultural continuity through

the sharing of stories, songs, history, personal experiences and social commentary.

 

Mi’kmaq: Our Stories

They reflect a unique world view and give meaning to the daily lives of individuals, families and the community.

We will learn about special community events and

ceremonies that sustain and nourish Mi’kmaq culture.

 

Mi’kmaq: Our Stories

What is the importance of oral traditions and storytelling?

How are oral works in contrast to the written word? 

Define creation stories and legends.

What do they have in common? What can they be considered equivalent to?

   

Mi’kmaq: Our Stories

What is a tale? What do they describe? 

Describe storytelling. Why are they considered both entertainment and sources of information?

Define Oral history  

Small group discussions – Our Stories

In small groups identify what you believe to be the key elements of oral tradition

Why has this system worked for so long?

Our stories – group answers

Key elements of oral tradition Provides cultural continuity Keeps the family and community strong Can relate to real life situations Can teach skill – cooking, building a house Source of cultural identity and personal pride

Why has this system lasted for so long

Stories were changed to be more relevant to the generation

Captured the interest of the children It became tradition Source of entertainment It was the only way to remember the

history – there was no other way to record them

Questions

After reading the stories from section 1.2 how can you compare them to other stories that you have read? In what ways are they the same? Different?

What kinds of stories do people tell in your house? What is the oldest story you know? Is it written down? Was it always written down?

Compare the differences in a person’s language in each of the following cases: Telling a story, talking on the phone, having a face-to-face conversation, through the use of technology?

Mi’kmaq: Wampum

Wampum – used as a way of recording and sending messages. It consisted of purple and white beads made from the shells of quahog clams.

 The design of each string or belt indicated the type of message being sent and helped the messenger remember the specific contents.

Considered very sacred and treated with great respect

Mi’kmaq: Wampum

It was mainly used for the following:1. Establish, maintain and terminate political relations.2. Establish and maintain family relationships and

make marriage proposals.3. Show that people had positions of importance within

a nation or local group.4. To perform spiritual ceremonies. 5. To form alliances or make treaties and agreements

with Europeans.

Mi’kmaq: Wampum

http://www.cnd-m.com/english/Archives/Visit/2001-08-Wampum.htm

To make Wampum today

2 cups baking soda 1 cup cornstarch 1 ¼ cups cold water Stir and bring to a boil for 1 min Cover with a damp cloth and place on a cutting board

until cool Knead and roll in a snake shape Cut in bead shapes put hole in with toothpicks Allow to dry for 24-36 hours String with heavy yarn and paint