Saint Anne, mother of Mary. Missionaries recognized the respect the Mi’kmaq hold for the role of grandmother as teacher and guardian of culture..

The Mi’kmaq referred to themselves as L’nuk, or the people. Settlers who learned the language called them “Mi’kmaq”, or kin-friends. Lentuk means deer.

With more than 1,000 members, the Acadia First Nation is comprised of five reserves, which are located in various locations across southwest Nova Scotia.

Mi’kmaq burn braids of sweetgrass, cedar, tobacco, sage and pass the smoke over their bodies and faces to cleanse the mind and spirit. This is a common practice among First Nations; the herb used to smoke varies according to the area. Mi’kmaq also use sweetgrass in basketry.

The fiddle. Lee Cremo won “Best Bow are in the World”, at the World Fiddle Championship in Nashville, Tennessee.

Porcupine quill embroidery and basket-weaving.

Mi’kmaw wigwams are constructed in a conical shape and covered in birch bark.

Grand Chief Membertou, along with 21 members of his family, were baptized in A.D. 1610.

The Algonquian language family is the largest in North America and includes numerous indigenous languages stretching from the easternmost shores of Mi’kma’ki to the territories of the Blackfoot and Plains Cree in Alberta to as far south as the state of South Carolina in the United States. Within the Algoniquian language family there are more than 40 languages.

Robert Johnson Jr., MD, received the award for his achievements at Dalhousie University and is the first Mi’kmaw physician.