June is National Indigenous History Month. Did you know that the word Niskam was adapted by early Catholic missionaries to connote the word "God"? In Mi'kmaw language, there is no one word for Creator, but rather, various verbs that articulate different processes of creation. 1/4
Kisu'lkw: what created us.
Ankweyulkw: what looks after us.
Jikeyulkw: what watches after or over us.
Tekweyulkw: what is with us. 2/4
None of these words were nouns that meant one central being (a God/Creator) as a source of creation. These words are also said with a present tense, that God/Creator is ongoing (one couldn't speak of God/Creator as something that already happened). 3/4
That is, God/Creator is a process, a continuously manifesting, creative force. 4/4
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June is National Indigenous History Month. Did you know that Mi'kmaq have folklore legends of little people (akin to leprechauns in Irish folklore)? They're Wiklamu'jk, usually known as being mischievous (with fun pranks) rather than malevolent. Some say they were evil. 1/4
Others considered them nice and would help you if you got lost in the woods.
They're revered (and feared) because they played an important role in Mi'kmaw mindset re respectful and sensible behaviour. If one misbehaved towards another, a fear arose because that person… 2/4
doesn't know what tricks Wiklamu'jk would do to restore the respect/balance that was broken by the misbehaviour. 3/4
October is Mi'kmaw History Month. Rather than trivia, I end with a story.
As you may know, the school in my home community of We'koqma'q is under Mi'kmaw Kina'matnewey jurisdiction and not the province. In June 2016, I was home for my cousin's high school graduation. 1/9
For the first time in the school's history, a non-Native graduated.
My cousin told me that this young man (an Acadian) was subjected to bullying at his old school, was very depressed, and even had suicidal thoughts. He was allowed to come to the on-reserve school. 2/9
My cousin informed me that this young man entered at grade ten, was treated no differently than from everyone else, and was fully accepted. He became happier and healthier. 3/9
October is Mi'kmaw History Month. Did you know that for the Mi’kmaw districts, Epekwitk aq Piktuk (what is today Prince Edward Island and the lowland area of the Northumberland Strait) is recognized as one district (not two)? 1/3
It was believed that the land below this water was once above water. But after the ice age, enough water was left to create the island-land separation. 2/3
Nevertheless, as it was recognized as one district, it is believed that the Mi’kmaq naming/recognition of this pre-dates the ice age. 3/3