The mikmaq a way of life dissertation

Mi’kmaq was the spelling of a tribe of Indians that acquired first contact with European explorers in the 16th and 17th century. As time passes, the brand has been changed to what we understand today since Mic Apple pc. The word Mi’kmaq derives from the word nikmak, which means “my kin-friends” or perhaps allies. The rich and descriptive Mi’kmaq language was obviously a member of the Algonkin relatives. Although every Mi’kmaq may understand the other person, the vernacular varies between bands. For instance , the Mi’kmaq spoken in Quebec is different from that in Nova Scotia. The Mi’kmaq tribe resolved in south west New Foundland in 1630. They were the “first region people” (Nova Scotia 1) of Nova Scotia and later also settled in Fresh England. These are the dominant group in the Canadian Maritimes and are f Roman Catholic beliefs, (Nova Scotia 1, Wallis and Wallis14, 21-22, Sultzman 1).

In traditional times, men, ladies and children almost all wore similar clothing. Pants were made out of pet hide, moccasins made from moose or seal off skin, and sleeves made out of fur or leather, cigarette pouches were worn by simply both genders. Both men and women likewise wore a loose fur robe, although each sexual wore the robe in different ways. Men wore it covered over the shoulders like a quilt, while women wore the robe covered tightly surrounding the body beneath the arms. Babies were wrapped in sibel, swan or perhaps goose skins. The skin were bronzed by using creature brains, chicken liver and oil and in addition by smoking. Then, inside the nineteenth 100 years the clothing from the Mi’kmaq tribe changed and became modernized. The ladies wore beaded peaked shelves and fleece skirts. The boys wore apparel that resembled European armed forces uniforms (Nova Scotia 1-2).

Common Mi’kmaq homes had been called wigwams. Wigwams were put up simply by women and generally built in one day. They were created using spruce poles that were tied up together towards the top and the underside of the poles were spread out to make a triangular shape. They then took birch bark, which can be waterproof, and layered the sheets again and again until the composition was covered. The top from the wigwam was left open to act as a chimney. Pet furs and woven pads were applied as floor and a creature hide was hung to cover the door beginning. Paintings of animals and birds adorned the outsides of the wigwams. When the group would approach, the birch bark will be removed and taken with them(Nova Scotia 1).

Hunting was the key source of meals for the Mi’kmaq. Generating stakes in the streambed trapped larger fish, such as fish and sturgeon. A net, called an abi, was performed with connected tree twigs. The lure that they utilized for fishing was called wa’adegon. Fishhooks were made out of copper or possibly a hook formed bone that was sharpened at both ends. To get larger seafood, a leister was used. It was a three-pronged spear. There were a center level and two-points that came out on each side from the middle level. Lobsters and shellfish were dug out of the seabed with sticks and roasted in coals, (Nova Scotia two to three, Wallis and Wallis 27-28, Davis 27).

Hunting beef changed if the seasons performed. During the summertime, animals including moose, caribou, deer, pussy, and porcupine were hunted on foot. Porpoise, walrus, and seal had been hunted in the water by canoe in the water. In the cold weather, they would break

A beavers atteinte and crack the ice in 40-50 diverse places. The beavers would then need to come out of the broken gaps in the ice. Moose were the Mi’kmaq’s most productive foodstuff and were hunted from February to mid 03. Meat and fish will then end up being dried and smoked to preserve them. Berries, roots and edible vegetation were also a source of food for the Mi’kmaq, (Nova Scotia a few, Davis 27).

The gear intended for hunting was mostly man made. Some of items used for hunting were bones of animal, teeth, claws, hair, quills, shells, clay-based, stone, wooden, roots and bark. Milling stone to a sharp border and an easy surface produced axes. Bows were made of fir, jazz or rock and roll maple. Asparagus spears, knives and arrow points were made from chalcedony. Any kind of fine making was finished with beaver teeth, (Nova Scotia 2-3, Wallis and Wallis 28).

The main transportation which the Mikmaqs applied was the canoe. The canoe was extensive bottomed and raised at both ends with factors that bent upwards in the centre, and ranged in length by ten ft to dua puluh enam feet very long. The canoe was made of birch start barking over a light wooden shape. Another way of transportation was the toboggan, or as named by the Mi’kmaq’s, taba’gan. The toboggan was usually 6 to 8 feet very long. They also employed sleds, or perhaps wa’aski’bidek. Sleds and toboggans were accustomed to carry heavy loads over snow. Snowshoes, that were all shaped in different ways, and weaved distinctly several weather, were also used, (Nova Scotia three or more, Wallis and Wallis 51).

Entertainment among the list of Mi’kmaq’s included story showing, which could previous for days, moving, feasting, Waltes (a dice game), and contests that included working, wrestling, capturing and several ball video games. Tobacco smoking was also a type of entertainment. The tobacco was performed from red willow bark, bear berry leaves and a native tobacco grow. Tobacco plumbing were made of wood or perhaps stone. Vocal was one more part of Mi’kmaq culture. There are three classes of songs. The first, neska wet, consisted of merely singing. The 2nd, tcigamaan, was singing and dancing. The 3rd form of song was neska winto. This form of song was only sung when there were a alone singer and dance was sometimes added in. A few of the songs had been: Gu’gwetc (The Game Song), Tes’kamwe Tabe’giana (The Leather Song), Ucatolte Tab’giana (The Toad Song), Ad’iuan’ietcitc’ (Goodbye, Little Annie), and Kiste’djuwe’giau (The Captive Song), (Nova Scotia four, Wallis and Wallis sixty-eight, 192-194).

The Mi’kmaqs were divided into seven different nations, with every single having their particular chief. The Epelwik, “lying on the water”, Eskikewa’kik, “skin dressers territory”, Kespek, “last land”, Kespukwitk, “land’s end”, Siknikt, “drainage place”, Sipekne’katik, “ground nut place”, Wunama’kik, “foggy land”, and in 1860 an eighth nation was added in Southern Newfoundland dog, Taqamkuk, (Sultzan 1-2).

The citizenry of the Mi’kmaq was originally 3, 000 to 40, 000 persons but generally around twenty, 000, (Sultzan 1). By simply 1620, epidemics had reduced the population to less than four, 000. Simply by 1760, the phone number had fallen to 3, 500 and by 1823 the number of Mi’kmaqs fell to a all period low of 1, 800. The 1794 The author Treaty between Great Britain plus the United States enables Mi’kmaqs to go across the border from Canada into the United States, thus, permitting Mi’kmaqs to live freely in the usa, and still be able to go into Canada, (1).

At the present time, there are more than 16, 1000 (Sultzan 1) registered Mi’kmaqs in Canada with twenty-eight distinct groups. The usa and Canada combined have got about twenty-five, 000 Mi’kmaqs with only 1 recognized group in the United States. This group is known as the Aroostook Band of MicMac and is located in North Maine, they have 500 people to date. The ABM was recognized by the state government in 1973 through the Federal government 20 years ago. There are much more than 2, 000 Mi’kmaq living in the Boston, Massachusetts area and several hundred or so living in New York City, (1).

One particular might conclude that the Mi’kmaq tribes, in traditional instances, lived one common and fruitful life. With only the methods of the area, they was able to overcome a large number of obstacles and keep the Mi’kmaq tradition in.

Bibliography

Functions Cited

Davis, Stephen A. Mi’kmaq. Tantallon, NS: Rour East Journals, 1991. twenty-seven.

Nova Scotia Museum. Information sheet-The Mi’kmaq. Online. Internet. http:www.ednet.ns.ca/educ/museaum/arch/infos/mikmaq1.htm. 1-4

Sultzman, Lee. MicMac. On the web. World Wide Web. http:www.dickshovel.com/mic.html. 1-2

Wallis, Wilson M. and Ruth Sawtell. The MicMac Indians of Far eastern Canada. St . Paul, Minnesota: North Central Publishing Company, 1955. 13, 21-22, 27-28, 51, sixty-eight, 192-194.

Innovative Writing