Thursday, December 21, 2017

Student-built wigwam a central piece of Mount Stewart Consolidated

​A
 popular and central place to learn, talk and reflect.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-wigam-mount-stewart-1.4390111


​"​
A wigwam at Mount Stewart Consolidated School has become a popular and central place for students to learn, talk and reflect.
​ ...​
Junior Peter-Paul, of Abegweit First Nation, showed and helped students build the wigwam earlier this fall as part of a Canada 150 project and it's been a central piece to the school grounds ever since.​ ... The area has become a sort of outdoor classroom at times, but it mostly serves as a spot for students to talk and relax.
​"​


​==========​

Monday, December 18, 2017

APTN Show - Wabanaagig

T
​V show in Mi'kmaw (subtitled in English)​
"WABANAAGIG, Land of the Rising Sun, goes beyond words to encapsulate the strong emotions of the Wabanaki, a people who have emerged from centuries of oppression, occupation of their lands, and obliteration of their languages. Each week the important stories about the past, and the present of this proud people from Eastern Canada are told."
​================​

Monday, December 11, 2017

Mi'kmaq artist's work on display in New York City

​A​
n exhibition at the Smithsonian and the National Museum of the American Indian

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/mi-kmaq-artist-bennett-exhibit-new-york-1.4419786


​"​
A Newfoundland artist has landed on the world stage, thanks to some photographs in the archives of the Smithsonian Institute in New York City.
​ ​
Jordan Bennett is Mi'kmaq, originally from Stephenville Crossing on Newfoundland's west coast, and is multi-disciplinary visual artist.
​ ​
Bennett was asked to be part of an exhibition at the Smithsonian and the National Museum of the American Indian, and for part of his research delved into the archives.
​"​


​=========​

Friday, December 8, 2017

Mi'kmaq Study Sets and Flashcards

​Vocab, facts and more​
https://quizlet.com/subject/mi'kmaq/



U
​se this web app to learn basic vocabulary and some important facts about the Mi'kmaq people.

============

"Planting the Seed"

 First Nation Orientation Guide
https://novascotia.ca/abor/docs/other-resources/Orientation-Guide-Atlantic-First-Nations-(2).pdf

​"​
The Planting the Seed project include
​s​
the First Nation Orientation Guide that provides information
​ ​
about the Mi'kmaq/Maliseet communities throughout the Atlantic Region. The Mi'kmaq Maliseet
​ ​
Human Resource Guide make
​s​
known the many cultural talents of First Nations and, the Cultural
​ ​
Education Pamphlet will be used as tools for creating awareness
​ ​
about First Nation Spirituality.
​"​
 
=
​=====​========

Teachings from the Medicine Wheel

​A​
n exploration of culture through stories and language.

​"​
The Mi
​'kmaq​ 
and Maliseet are the aboriginal peoples of the Maritime region of Canada. This website is an exploration of their culture through their stories and their language.
​ ​
​On this site, you will find
 links to five stories read in English, 
Mi
​'kmaq
 and Maliseet, along with transcriptions in all three tongues. We have also provided excerpts from a conversation with Imelda Perly about native culture, language and spirituality.
​"​

​========​

Tuesday, December 5, 2017

The journey of the Mi'kmaq Honour Song

From 
​the​
sweat lodge to the classroom 
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/mi-kmaq-honour-song-george-paul-nova-scotia-schools-1.4428912

​From the article: ​

​"​
Thanks to
​George ​
Paul, who worked to revive traditional songs and gatherings in the Maritimes,
​the Mi'kmaq honour
 song has become the national anthem of the
​L'nuk
, and is now being used to teach elementary school students about Mi'kmaq culture and traditions.
​"​
 

​===========​


Wednesday, November 22, 2017

A Mi'kmaq seat at the table

How a First Nation came to claim Aboriginal title over a third of New Brunswick
http://www.cbc.ca/news2/interactives/a-mikmaq-seat-at-the-table/

​A fascinating story of Indigenous people staking a claim on their own traditional territory.​


​"​
Last November, Elsipogtog filed for Aboriginal title over nearly one-third of New Brunswick — both Crown and private lands — on behalf of all Mi'kmaq in the province.
​ ​
Aboriginal title would be the legal recognition that Indigenous peoples in the area have a right to decide what will happen with the land and a right to benefit from it.
​ ​
More practically, it would mean a forced seat at the table for the Mi'kmaq when decisions are made about resource development. In the case of the SWN testing, the project would have needed the consent of the Mi'kmaq before going ahead.
​"​

​=========​

Thursday, November 16, 2017

L'nuisi via Wikiversity

Learn some basics about the ​Mi'kmaq language ​via wikiversity
 
Discover the basics of Mi'kmaq language, understand the different dialects and orthographies used in Mi'kmaq, and ​learn some basic vocabulary in Mi'kmaq. 


Here's a breakdown of the chapters:
Chap. 1 :        Introduction
Chap. 2 :        Dialects
Chap. 3 :        Orthographies and writing systems
Chap. 4 :        Phonology
Chap. 5 :        Grammar
Chap. 6 :        Counting
Chap. 7 :        Basic vocabulary
Chap. 8 :        Greetings

​===================​

Saturday, November 11, 2017

A Membertou linguist reads In Flanders Fields in Mi'kmaq


Honouring Aboriginal Veterans.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/mikmaq-membertou-remembrance-day-1.4395774


"Bernie Francis stands in the shadow of the cenotaph, the Mi'kmaq poem flowing from his lips. Each time, the linguist says, he gets a little closer to the souls buried in the words. The words that schoolchildren mouth at assemblies each November. The lines written by bereaved Canadian physician and soldier John McCrae after burying his student and friend."



=========​

Thursday, September 28, 2017

Publisher releases bilingual book about PEI's creation

T​
he Mi'kmaq creation story of P.E.I.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/bilingual-book-mi-kmaq-creation-story-1.4204824

​"​
Charlottetown-based Acorn Press has just published its first bilingual book in English and Mi'kmaq. ​ "​Minegoo​"​ tells the Mi'kmaq creation story of P.E.I. in text and watercolours.​ ​Author and illustrator Sandra Dodge told CBC Radio's Mainstreet P.E.I. that she first had the idea during the opening of the Confederation Bridge in 1997.​ ​"I started reading every version of the creation story that I could get a hold of and doing some research and that's where it started," she said.
​"​

​=================​

Tuesday, September 19, 2017

Mi’kmaq History Month poster 2017

A​
visual guide illustrating
​ ​
Innovations and Legacies 


​"​
Gerald Gloade, the artist who created this year's Mi'kmaq History Month poster, explains that, "Mi'kmaw knowledge grew over many generations resulting in a sophisticated relationship with the homeland – the seasons, cycles, animals and plants of Mi'kma'ki are at the core of our culture and language".

​"​
Gloade captured this essence of Innovations and Legacies through a visual guide illustrating many examples of unique Mi'kmaw technology, providing a lasting contribution to today's Canadian culture.

​===============​

Saturday, September 16, 2017

Quizlet Decks for language practice

​Review review review​!
https://quizlet.com/MikmawWarriorArts

​Practice makes perfect and these flashcards will help you refine your word recognition skills!

==============


Tuesday, July 11, 2017

Mi'kmaq curator gets 'chills' from rediscovered Membertou artifact

​Gift
 to French godfather in 1610 on display 


​"​
A 400-year-old gourd that Grand Chief Membertou gave to his French godfather has returned to Nova Scotia.
​ ​
It dates to the early 1600s, when Samuel de Champlain's French expedition arrived in Mi'kma'ki to start the first European settlement.At the time in 1610 when
​ ​
[Membertou] was baptized, he presented this gourd to his godfather, Charles Robin, who eventually took it back to France and at that time it was decorated in three different stages," he said Tuesday.
​ ​
The illustrations mix French and Mi'kmaq culture. Lewis said finding it again was "a bit of a fluke."


​========​

Wednesday, June 28, 2017

Summer Legend by Françoise Hartmann - NFB

Glooscap battles​ with the giant Winter
https://www.nfb.ca/film/summer_legend/



​"This short animation tells the tale of the great spirit Glooscap and how he battled with the giant Winter in order to bring Summer to the North and the Mi'kmaq people. Silas T. Rand, a Canadian Baptist clergyman and ethnographer, and Charles Leland, an American humorist and folklorist, first recorded the legend of Glooscap at the end of the 19th century. Since then, the legend has been retold many times, but never more beautifully than in this colourful animated interpretation.​"​




​=========​

Tuesday, June 27, 2017

Quizlet for L'nuisi

​Vocab to learn the language​
https://quizlet.com/Alanna_Edwards


​Flashcards are a great way to drill spelling and phrases. Use these card sets by Alanna Edwards to brush up on your Mi'kmaw skills.

==============​

Wednesday, June 21, 2017

National Aboriginal Day - by any other name...

​From now on - 
 National Indigenous Peoples Day


Happy National Aboriginal Day, Happy Nation Indigenous Peoples' Day, Happy Solstice! Let's hope the name change reflects a deep commitment to making changes in how Indigenous People are welcomed into the heart of Canadian society.
​"​
The semantic shift to "indigenous" — now generally seen as the preferred term to refer to the original inhabitants of Canada — follows the Trudeau government's decision in 2015 to rename the Department of Aboriginal Affairs to Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada.
​"​

==========

Tuesday, June 13, 2017

Learning through an Aboriginal language

The impact on students' English and Aboriginal language skills |
​CJE

http://journals.sfu.ca/cje/index.php/cje-rce/article/view/824/1112


​In 2011, the CJE printed this interesting study on the impact of immersing students in a traditional language rather than adding it as a second language (i.e. vocab, a few phrases, colours, etc.)​ The authors offer important findings around cultural identity and performance in mainstream language (French or English.)

​"​
Aboriginal communities across Canada are implementing Aboriginal language programs in their schools. In the present research, we explore the impact of learning through an Aboriginal language on students' English and Aboriginal language skills by contrasting a Mi'kmaq language immersion program with a Mi'kmaq as a second language program. The results revealed that students in the immersion program not only had stronger Mi'kmaq language skills compared to students in the second language program, but students within both programs ultimately had the same level of English. Immersion programs can simultaneously revitalize a threatened language and prepare students for success in mainstream society.
​"​
 

​===========​

Monday, June 12, 2017

Mi'kmaq apprentices build birchbark canoe

​Reclaiming things that may have been forgotten
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/mi-kmaq-birchbark-canoe-building-todd-labrador-millbrook-1.4152046

​"​
The Confederacy of Mainland Mi'kmaq organized the program in partnership with Nova Scotia's Department of Communities, Culture and Heritage.

​"​
The group of apprentices is working under the guidance of Todd Labrador, a seventh generation canoe builder, learning how to transform spruce roots and birch bark into an elegant 16-foot vessel. 

​"​
Labrador hopes the program will spark new interest in his craft.
"It's a part of our culture, canoe building and basket making. That's so important, but not enough people are doing it. There's always the fear of losing it," he said. 

​==============​

Tuesday, May 30, 2017

Nouns - Mi'gmaq

​A great read for an L'nu Grammar Wonk!​
http://wiki.migmaq.org/index.php?title=Nouns


​I love learning about languages and the intricacies of grammar systems. The Mi'kmaw language has concepts that don't exist in English. It makes for fascinating reading!

=========​


Monday, May 15, 2017

Halifax schools could start each day with recognition of Mi'kmaq lands

Statement acknowledging Mi'kmaq lands
​to
 be read along with announcements 


​"​
The school board's elected Mi'kmaq representative, Jessica Rose, said if a statement is introduced, she hopes it will help Mi'kmaq students feel proud and accepted by their peers.

​"​
Rose said it's important that the statement be accompanied by appropriate education about Mi'kmaq history. While the curriculum for primary to Grade 6 students does include treaty education, and older students do learn about Mi'kmaq culture and heritage, there's always room for more lessons, Rose said.

===============

Thursday, April 6, 2017

Fort William First Nation accepts non-Indigenous man as full member



​"​
As other First Nations take legal action to limit their membership and to exclude even fully Indigenous people who marry outsiders, the Fort William First Nation this year accepted four people as members who do not possess Indian status, which is recognition by the federal government that a person is registered under the Indian Act and entitled to the accompanying funding and benefits.
​"


As I read this article, I was struck by the difference between what is happening in Fort William and how things are unfolding for the Qalipu. ​When First Nations have control over their own membership rolls without interference from the Federal government, they are able to make decisions that benefit their communities rather than divide them. I wonder about the families in Newfoundland who find that some members are not welcome or are excluded despite their ancestral and traditional connections to the people and the land. How terrible to be denied recognition by members of your own Mi'kmaw community.


=============


Wednesday, February 22, 2017

Teaching About the Mi’kmaq

C​
urriculum resource
​s to download

http://www.mikmaweydebert.ca/home/sharing-our-stories/education-and-outreach/school-curriculum/

Th
​e​s
e
​​
curriculum resource
​s,​
developed by Mi'kmaw educators
​,​
​are
 available to teachers and the general public
​via
 the MDCC website.
​(​
Supplementary materials can be found here.
​) ​
The
​se​
resource
​s​
​were
 designed for anyone who teaches Mi'kmaw history, culture and knowledge. Through the stories and knowledge of Mi'kmaw Elders, educators, and other experts,
​you will find
 content and teaching strategies for grades primary to nine
​.

===================​


Sunday, January 15, 2017

Gathering Song - transcription

A gathering is happening


Wejkwita
​'​
jik Ni
​'​
kmaq
Wla tett nike
​'​
a
Mawio
​'​
mi weskewa
​'​
sik
Welta
​'​
sualtultimk tett nike
​'​ ...


=================