Mi’kmaq Studies 10
Introductory unit
The Mi’kmaq: Who We Are
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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.
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
The Mi’kmaq: Who We Are
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Home
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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.
Top was left open for smoke to escape
The Mi’kmaq: Who We Are
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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)
Wigwam
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1930 St. Anne's Day,
Chapel Island, Nova
Scotia
The Mi’kmaq: Who We Are
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Clothing
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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: Who We Are
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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: Who We Are
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Tools
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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: Who We Are
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Transportation
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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
3-8 meters long
Birch bark over a light wooden frame
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
canoe
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1870-1885 ca
Mi'kmaq oceangoing canoe
The Mi’kmaq: Who We Are
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Food
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The Mi’kmaq spent about all but six weeks along the
sea coast
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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: Who We Are
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Pastimes
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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
http://mathcentral.uregina.ca/RR/database/RR.09.00/t
reptau1/
Mi’kmaq
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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.
Our Stories
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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. 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.
Our Stories
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Read section 1.2 “Oral Traditions” in the
text Maliseet and Micmac: First Nations of
the Maritimes
Pages 13-18 (up to and including oral
history)
Our Stories
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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?
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
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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
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Key elements of oral tradition
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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
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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
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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?
Wampum
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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
Wampum
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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.
Wampum
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See page 20 for examples
http://www.cndm.com/english/Archives/Visit/2001-08Wampum.htm
To make Wampum today
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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
Wampum
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Read pages 18-24
Page 25 answer questions 6 & 7