Bringing Mi’kmaw Belongings Home: Collaboration and Discovery

The article Returning Home: Mi’kmaw Beadwork and Belongings Prepare for Their Journey Back to Mi’kma’kik highlights the collaborative efforts between Mi’kmawey Debert Cultural Centre (MDCC) and the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) to prepare Mi’kmaw belongings for their return to Mi’kma’kik by 2027. Mi’kmaw beaders Nik Phillips and Jocelyn Marshall, along with MDCC and NMAI teams, worked to select and study culturally significant items like beadwork, ceremonial garments, and arrows, ensuring their stories are preserved and shared through a Mi’kmaw lens. The team also explored innovative display techniques, such as recreating historical contexts for items like a beaded coat. Collaborations with the Smithsonian’s Feather Identification Lab led to fascinating discoveries, including a cassowary feather, raising questions about historical trade routes. The article underscores the importance of honouring Mi’kmaw heritage and governance traditions, with a focus on storytelling and intentional display. Jocelyn emphasizes that this effort goes beyond repatriation, aiming to create spaces where Mi’kmaw belongings and their stories can thrive for future generations. Click to read the article.