Micmac Indians

they used boats

The Mi'kmaqs initial contact with the Europeans did not surprise them. Oral legends told of one of their spiritual beings traveling across the great sea to "discover" a land and a prophesy that blue-eyed people would arrive from the east to disrupt their lives. Micmac people also knew the story of a woman who had a vision of an island floating toward their lands; the island (boat) was decked out with tall trees (masts) on which were living beings (sailors). Thus the Mi'kmaqs were not startled by the appearance of early explorers in sailing ships. Instead, they greeted the newcomers, set up trade with them, and quickly incorporated the strangers' new technologies and cultures into their own culture.

lick my dong

Your question makes it sound like we died. When the first explorers arrived on the shores of North America the mi'kmaq had been here for a very long time. At the time of first contact with European explorers in the 16th and 17th centuries the Mi'kmaq lived in the region now known as the Maritime provinces. Prior to that there is evidence the Mi'kmaq greeted the vikings and traded with them too.

The tribe is still living in the same areas today.

Democracy within our Nation, in the modern sense, started in 1918 when Kji Saqamaw (Grand Chief) Gabriel Sylliboy who was the last traditional Saqamaw became the first elected Grand Chief at a ceremony in Chapel Island thus becoming the First "Democratic" Chief. Before that, a Kji Saqamaw or a District Saqamaw, had to possess many great qualities that benefited the tribe and it was the elders, especially the elderly grandmothers (Clan Mothers) that had the final decision on how and who would finally become the District Chiefs and Grand Chief. Quite Contrary to the democratic ways which did not even permit the women to vote til more recently and women who married out of the tribe lost their status. But the democratic system works much differently today than in the old ways which were transparent and open. In some Districts Local Saqamaw can be very secretive and theie positions potentially abused by those with poor leadership skills with the end result in corruption, lies, confusion, division vs. consensus, and the list goes on.

We were a Matriarch Society and led by the wisdom of the elders who had the highest respect from all community members. The introduction of democracy in some areas has evolved into a chaotic political blunder that is the root of many problems in our Nation today. Through democracy, the youths of today out vote the elders as if they no longer have a voice in our community. The roots between the elders and youths continue to be further disconnected and as a result we continue to get poor leadership. The youths have been easily corrupted, tempted, bought off and often make poor choices through the democratic process. They think short term rather than for the current and future generations and lack the life experience and knowledge to make the best choice that would best benefit our communities.

The most common shelter used by the Mi'kmaq was the wikuom or wigwam . There were two types. The small cone-shaped style, that could hold up to 10-12 people, and the large oval shelter, which could hold as many as 24 occupants. In both cases, the structure is based on a pole frame, covered with birch bark or, more rarely, hides. Because of the effort required to harvest birch bark sheets, the coverings were usually packed carried from location to location as the tribe moved seasonally.

A rock circle as a fireplace stood in the centre, under the vented top to provide heat and light. The floor was generally covered with soft fir boughs, which provided a comfortable surface for sitting or sleeping.

Kwe' (greetings).

The Mi'kmaq tribe *is* a tribe of approximately 40,000 people living mostly in some New England states, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, New Brunswick, and Quebec. Approximately 1 in 4 of them still speak their native language, the Mi'kmaw language. The language has 11 consonants, 5 long vowels, 5 short vowels, and a schwa.

Many of us also use the internet.

gu nich e wa

No. The metis are a tribe on their own. Mixed race and proud, the woodland metis have formed their own identity and are fighting for the same rights as native peoples everywhere. The metis are decendants of European and native union through history.

Historically there was certain roles undertaken by gender, but the Mi'kmaq lifestyle was notable by cooperation between the members of the community. The basic role of the man was to hunt and fish, and to be the protectors of the group/family. The women of the Mi'kmaq family gathered plant resources, preserved meats and maintained the camps, They were also the lifegivers to the sick and injured and caregivers to all. There was a great deal of sharing all tasks that often crossed gender lines. The women were quite capable of fishing or hunting to support the families when the men were away. Native Petroglyphs at Kejimkujik clearly show men and women fishing together.

There are many possible origins for the name Mi'kmaq; one is a combination of the words mekwe'k (red) and maqmikew(ground), giving the meaning [people of] the red earth.

the mi'kmaq used a system that is some what like a king a stroung brave figure for each tribe

No, they travelled on foot through the woods or by canoe; canoes were also used for fishing and hunting.

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The Mi'kmaq greeting, as in many of the Algonguian languages, is kwe'.

The Mi'kmaq territories were and still are in the Canadian Maritime provinces also known as Canada's east coast. These provinces include Nova Scotia, the Gaspé Peninsula in Quebec, Prince Edward Island, and the eastern half of New Brunswick. They also occupied much of southwestern Newfoundland and Northern Maine of the U.S.A.

They use seal/walrus/etc. hides and sew them into clothes with thread made from tendons (the strings that move your fingers and toes).

cold snowy rainy and sometimes sunny

Yes. The mi'kmaq tribe is alive, well and thriving. Most members of the tribe live on Canada's East coast. There are a number of Mi'kmaq sites available on the internet for more information.

the cind of art that the mi'kmaq did was cool

caribu hides or arctic hare

Being a semi-nomadic tribe the Mi'kmaq people did not grow crops. Hunters, fishermen and gatherers the tribe ate moose, deer and small game such as rabbits, grouse during the fall and winter. Fish was also on the diet including eel, salmon and smelt. The tribe was also adapt at hunting on the ocean and seal and whale were part of the catch. Wild root vegetables, seasonal fruit and berries were gathered and some trading with more agricultural tribes took place.

Mi'kmaq ate food of the land - including animals (bear, moose,deer, caribou, elk) plants, fruit and herbs. They prepared Luskinigin out of a bread dough (also called Bannok). They ate fresh fruits and vegetables and fish including eel. They would have ceremonies which involved large feasts.

For an interactive poster on Traditional foods. See: Related links

Yes, they did!

the saqumaw