Sa’qewe’l kmitkinal
Ancestors Live Here

Elder Murdena Marshall (Eskasoni First Nation) talks about the meaning of Debert, September 2008.

“I am from anywhere and everywhere. Eskasoni is the place I choose to live, but I am not from there… We say we are from Mi’kma’ki.”

– Mi’kmaw Elder Murdena Marshall

Mi’kma’ki is a vast area. Its diverse landscapes, seascapes, rivers, plants, animals, fish, rocks, and islands are inseparable from Mi’kmaw people, language, stories, history and spirit.

Cape d’Or is one of the most storied places in Mi’kma’ki. Looking east from the Bay of Fundy to the Minas Basin nearly every point in the distance is a Kluskap story place. For more than 11,000 years the ancestors of the Mi’kmaq and other Lnu’k (native people) have lived in Mi’kma’ki. The lives and culture of our ancestors live through us everyday.

Look around you. Understand that the rivers were our highways, travelled by birchbark canoes. Smell the sweetgrass we cultivated in certain places. Notice the Mi’kmaw place names: Cobequid (We’kopekwitk, The stories at Partridge Island reflect its Mi’kmaw name, <i srcset=wa’so’q, meaning heaven. They tell of Kluskap, his Grandmother and other features of this very important place.” width=”150″ height=”105″>meaning “as far as the water will flow”),  Caribou (qalipu, meaning “to shovel”) and Shubenacadie (Si~kepene’katik, meaning “wild potato area”).

Click on any of the place names on this page to see and hear more about Mi’kma’ki.

In this animated film, Clifford Paul tells the story of Braveshadow, a warrior finding his way in Mi’kma’ki. Artwork for the film by Gerald Gloade (Millbrook First Nation).

13 responses to “Ancestors Live Here”

  1. Karen Somerville says:

    Very interested in the curriculum .

    • Elizabeth Price says:

      Karen we are offering a PD session on this resource in Miramichi on March 22. I hope you can come.

  2. Tracey Evans says:

    I am a grade one teacher and would love to learn more about the Mi’kmaq culture so I can teach the young folk about the Mi’kmaq people.

    • MDCC says:

      Hi Tracey,

      The MDCC Educator, Gerald Gloade is a superb resource for you. You can find his programs and contact information on our website, https://www.mikmaweydebert.ca/home/sharing-our-stories/education-and-outreach/

      Also, our resource, Mi’kmawe’l Tan Teli-kina’muemk/Teaching About the Mi’kmaq contains units for grade 1 students, along with an introduction to Mi’kmaw history and culture. You can download it on the educational resources page of this website, https://www.mikmaweydebert.ca/home/sharing-our-stories/education-and-outreach/school-curriculum/

      Your school should be receiving a number of hard copies of Mi’kmawe’l Tan Teli-kina’muemk directly from the Department of Education (Book Bureau). If you will send the name of your school to Sheila Pierro, sheila@cmmns.com, she can confirm your school with the staff at the Department of Education.

      Let us know if we can assist your further!
      MDCC Staff

    • Donna MacLean says:

      I am in the process of creating SMART board lessons using the “Teaching About the Mi’kmaq ” materials. I will post them on the SMART Exchange when they have been completed. You can find them under Aboriginal Education. So far I have materials for grade 7-9 and am working on Grade k-3.

      • france says:

        that is wonderful. I develop also French material for the Smartboard . Do you have some french materials. I am Mi’Kmaq metis from my mother from Gaspé in Québec.

        france

        • MDCC says:

          We are glad you are enjoying the site. The Conseil scolaire acadien provincial is currently translating the Mi’kmawe’l Tan Teli-kina’muemk (Teaching About the Mi’kmaq) into French for provincial schools in Nova Scotia. We understand it will be available soon. A link will be posted on our website when it is available.

          MDCC Staff

  3. Sa'n says:

    Etamg’t Niskam ta’n ignmugsi’gw wantaqo’ti ggamlamuninaq apjiw ignmulinew wantaqo’ti ta’n pa tujiw aq ta’n getu tet tami I’mu’tioq.
    Elugwa’tasin ! L’nui’sultinej !
    Kepmite’tmnej ta’n wetapeksulti’kw !
    Kepmite’tmnej ta’n teli-l’nuulti’kw !

  4. Eugene Kelly says:

    Thanks for all the wonderful information regarding the culture and history of our people. I am learning so much and am sharing with my kids!

  5. […] European colonizers arrived on these shores, Mi’kmaq communities had long been caring gently for these lands and waters. We talked to Roger Lewis about the violent disruption that colonial […]

  6. […] European colonizers arrived on these shores, Mi’kmaq communities had long been caring gently for these lands and waters. We talked to Roger Lewis about the violent disruption that colonial […]

  7. Powepuff Freak says:

    OMG I LOVE MI’KMA”KI

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