Bringing Mi’kmaw belongings home to Nova Scotia for future generations

This Scotiabank Perspectives article spotlights the Home to Mi’kma’kik initiative, a groundbreaking effort led by Mi’kmawey Debert Cultural Centre to reconnect Mi’kmaw communities in Nova Scotia with over 600 cultural belongings held for more than a century at the Smithsonian Institution. Through research trips to Washington, D.C., Mi’kmaw artists, knowledge holders, and staff are engaging directly with belongings such as quillwork, beadwork, and tools—many of which were taken in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Tim Bernard, Executive Director of MDCC, explains how these belongings hold deep ancestral knowledge and offer insights into Mi’kmaw survival, innovation, and culture. The article highlights the emotional and cultural significance of bringing these items home, framing the work as part of a broader movement of Indigenous cultural resurgence and healing. Read the full article.