1. Mi’kmaq Studies 10
Introductory Unit

2. The Mi’kmaq: Who We Are
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.
Specific Curriculum Outcome: Students will be expected to demonstrate and understanding of who the Mi’maq people are, including their connections to the traditional lands called the Mi’ma’ki

3. The Mi’kmaq: Who We Are
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
Specific Curriculum Outcome: Students will be expected to demonstrate and understanding of who the Mi’maq people are, including their connections to the traditional lands called the Mi’ma’ki

4. The Mi’kmaq: Wigwam Could be built in a day and were put up by women
Different than Native American Teepee. A Wigwam was a more permanent structure.
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.

5. The Mi’kmaq: Wigwam Top was left open for smoke to escape
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 people (for larger families a longer style with two fireplaces was built)

6. 1930 St. Anne's Day, Chapel Island, Nova Scotia
The Mi’kmaq: Wigwam
                                                    
1930 St. Anne's Day, Chapel Island, Nova Scotia

7. The Mi’kmaq: Clothing 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

8. The Mi’kmaq: Clothing
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

9. The Mi’kmaq: Clothing
In the 17th century, and probably earlier, men's garments included a loose robe of fur or skin worn blanket-like over the shoulders, open in front and falling to the knees.
Leggings of moose, caribou or seal hide were tied at the hip to a leather girdle. The leather girdle also supported a loin cloth of very soft skin.
Moccasins of moose or seal skin, a tobacco pouch, and various accessories completed the clothing.

10. The Mi’kmaq: Clothing
Women wore similar robes, wrapped around the body under the arms like a bath towel. These robes were belted at the waist and fell to below the knees. Thongs over the shoulders acted as suspenders.
Both sexes often wore a pair of sleeves of fur or leather, resembling two halves of a bolero jacket cut down the middle and tied together at center back and front.
Women also wore leggings and moccasins and carried tobacco pouches.
Children wore a smaller version of the adult costume.
Babies were wrapped in the softest skins of fox, swan or goose.
By the 19th century the woman's costume included a beaded peaked cap and a woolen skirt. The man's coat reflected European military uniforms.

11. The Mi’kmaq: Tools
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.
Tools were used to cut and carve wood. Fine carving was done with sharp beaver teeth.
For killing game and butchering meat, they used spears, knives, arrow points and scrapers, all made from special stones. This rock fractures in a way which "peels" the stone away in flakes, creating a razor-sharp edge.

12. The Mi’kmaq: Transportation
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
Birch bark over a light wooden frame that is 3-8 meters long
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

13. The Mi’kmaq: Food
The Mi’kmaq spent about all but six weeks along the sea coast
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

14. The Mi’kmaq: Pastimes
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

15. Mi’kmaq: Our Stories
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.
Specific Curriculum Outcome – Students will be expected to demonstrate an understanding of the role of storytelling in the First Nations cultures and an openness to listen to the voices of the First Nations peoples as they spoke of the Mi’kmaq experience

16. Mi’kmaq: Land Mi’kma’ki is the homeland of the Mi’kmaq.
The Mi’kmaw Nation has lived and occupied the area now known as the Atlantic Provinces and the southern Gaspé Peninsula since time extending beyond the reach of memory, record or tradition.

17. Mi’kmaq: Land
Archaeological findings from both the Debert side in Colchester County and the Red Bridge Pond site in Dartmouth have given evidence of Mi’kmaw presence in and around the area for more than 10,500 years.

18. Mi’kmaq: Seven Districts
Mi’kma’ki was divided into seven districts:
1. Kespukwitk
2. Sipekni’katik
3. Eskikewa’kik
4. Unama’kik
5. Epekwitk aq Piktuk
6. Siknikt
7. Kespek