Short video on Mi'kmaw culture

The Mi'Kmaq Nation- A Story of Survival

Interviews and sharing from members of the Mi'kmaw community.

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Mi’kmaq: story of adaptation and determination

The world of Epekwitk's Mi'kmaq

http://www.journalpioneer.com/Living/2014-12-10/article-3970409/Mi&rsquo%3Bkmaq:-story-of-adaptation-and-determination/1

"This exhibition reveals the stories of P.E.I. Mi'kmaq, from Mi'kmaq legends, oral traditions and the knowledge of Elders to politics, alliance and conflict. It explores Mi'kmaq material culture and archaeology, as well as language and arts. It also looks at Mi'kmaq religion and spirituality, and the importance of family and community."

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Ancient Villages and Totem Poles of the Nisga'a - Activities and resources

Visit to the world of traditional Nisg̱a'a life and culture

http://www.gingolx.ca/nisgaaculture/ancient_villages/activities.htm

"Welcome to Ancient Villages & Totem Poles of the Nisg̱a'a. This website allows you to revisit the oldest villages of the Nisg̱a'a, study their totem poles, and understand the cultural practices and ways of life that sustained this Northwest Coast people since time immemorial."

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Canadian "Native" Flag

A beautiful take on the Canadian flag - by artist Curtis Wilson.

http://www.canadiannativeflag.ca/

http://www.canadiannativeflag.ca/about-canadian-native-flag/

"I created this design while sitting at my dinner table thinking about who I am and where I came from. I like to describe myself as coming from the four corners of the Kwakwaka'wakw territory. [...] Throughout my life, I have come to learn all the different relationships, interactions, hardships and struggles that First Nations people have faced in this country. This history goes back to time immemorial there have been a lot of negative impacts on both sides. I am a person that always tries to see the glass half full and even with all of the difficult situations we have faced, I still love the country I live in and am proud to call myself a Canadian…and First Nations Canadian. I wanted to create a design that represents both my cultural heritage and the country I live in."

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Mi'kmaq Vocab on Quizlet

Test yourself - match the words

http://quizlet.com/20506213/flashcards

Quizlet lets you create stacks of cards to practice your word recognition. Use the existing cards, or modify and add your own.

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The problem isn’t aboriginals as Stephen Harper suggests.

Coming to terms with Aboriginal Peoples

http://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2014/11/29/the_problem_isnt_aboriginals_as_stephen_harper_suggests_its_us_siddiqui.html

John Ralston Saul's new book prompts this incisive review by Haroon Siddiqui: (excerpt below)

"We are either indifferent to the indigenous peoples or sympathetic to them. But they do not want our sympathy. They want their rights — as spelled out in the treaties between them and the Crown. Those "permanent nation-to-nation agreements" are what made Canada possible on the triangular foundation of aboriginals, Francophones and Anglophones. The indigenous peoples gave massive tracts of lands in return for a permanent partnership of equals. Yet "we pretend that we do not have partnership obligations. We criticize. We insult. We complain. We weasel: Surely, these handouts have gone on long enough. But the most important handout was to us. "

What's to be done?... Read Saul's book to find out.

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First Nations language learners on the rise in B.C.

An explosion of interest in the languages in the last five years

http://www.timescolonist.com/sports/first-nations-language-learners-on-the-rise-in-b-c-1.1616698

"The number of fluent First Nations language speakers in B.C. are dwindling, but a new report shows the number of people learning the languages is on the rise. "The decline of fluent speakers is not a surprise because many elders are getting on in age," said Lorna Williams, chairwoman of the First Peoples' Cultural Council, which undertook the study. The Crown corporation was created in 1990 to advocate for arts, language and culture. "But there is cause for celebration when you look at all the new learners. Everybody says it is an impossible task because of the diversity of the languages, because they're not spoken, but it's happening."

British Columbia is home to 34 First Nations languages.

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Building vocab - Ntinin - My Body

Learning to speak mi'kmaw?

http://firstnationhelp.com/ali/posters/poster10.html

Hear the words pronounced for parts of the body. Note: each part is prefaced by the prefix for "my", that is "n".

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Reconciliation Through Indigenous Education | edX course

MOOC exploring Indigenous ways of knowing in classrooms

https://www.edx.org/course/reconciliation-through-indigenous-education-ubcx-indedu200x#.VHOj61xLn_8

"This Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) explores strategies, teaching exemplars, and resources that support the teaching and learning of Indigenous ways of knowing in classrooms, schools and communities. (Video intro: http://youtu.be/wUsx9fJDgJg )"

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Local organization refers to Halifax by Mi’kmaq name

K'jipuktuk/Halifax

http://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/mobile/local-organization-refers-to-halifax-by-mi-kmaq-name-1.2112417#

It would be nice to see more local names used. (Like "Haida Gwai" did in replacing "Queen Charlote's") Maybe there's room for both.

Some say it's a sign of respect and perhaps the beginning of something larger. The Ecology Action Centre in the north end of Halifax has started to refer to the city by its original Mi'kmaq name, K'jipuktuk. (It's roughly pronounced "che-book-took.") News releases from the centre include the name "Halifax" in brackets.

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