Before Europeans arrived, the entire Maritime region east of the St. John River and west to the St. Lawrence was known as Megumaage. The Mi'kmaqs who lived there had rules in place to regulate everything from sports to politics. The educational system was the link to survival, through the development of specialized hunting skills, the making of traditional equipment, and the creation of traditional clothing made from the skins of animals.

The social system encompassed communal rituals such as songs, chants and dances that accompanied wedding, funeral and other traditional ceremonies that the Mi’kmaq people practiced, as well as competitive traditional sports like canoeing, waltes (a traditional dice game) and archery.

The economic system was co-operative in everything from the quest for distribution of food and trading goods to the consumption of wealth.

The political system was democratic and people-oriented. The Mi'kmaq system consisted of seven autonomous districts. Each of the districts was made up of several small villages; each village had a chief, who was chosen for his ability and knowledge of the territory. Each district chose a chief for his ability to lead men and inspire confidence, his territorial knowledge, his understanding of the seasonal habits of animals and his skill as a good spokesman.

There were also regular council meetings held in the Great Lakes region, now known as Ontario. Council discussions were recorded on Wampum Belts kept by each tribe to record its history. Tribe members would attach rows of colored shells to the belts as a way of recording what went on at the meetings. The Mi'kmaq wampum belt was last seen at Chapel Island in the 1940's, and is shown in a photograph on display at the Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History. Where it went after the picture was taken remains a mystery.

When the Mi’kmaq first spotted the European settlers approaching the shores of Nova Scotia they thought they saw the body of land which they knew as “Turtle Island.” Before they realised that it was a ship, they mistook the large white sails of the settlers’ vessels for this island.

Contact with the Europeans in the 1500's dramatically affected the arrangement of Mi'kmaq society. Trade practiced with other tribes was expanded to include the European settlers and initiated the beginning of a market economy. Items, formerly of inherent value, became commodities to be traded with the European nations. In turn, this led to a dependence on foreign markets influencing the degree of Mi'kmaq self-sufficiency. History from that point on, the history of Canada, has been one of dominance over First Nations people. It has influenced current Aboriginal- non-Aboriginal relationships at all levels.

The Mi'kmaq people are one of eight principal Woodland Indian tribes, all belonging to the Algonkian family, who originally inhabited what are now the Maritime provinces and the Gaspe region of Quebec. Traditionally each tribe was divided into bands consisting of related families, normally not exceeding 400 members.

The Mi'kmaq people have inhabited the Atlantic coast of Canada for thousands of years. They were a hunter gatherer society, consisting of skilled trappers and trained hunters. The ability to move at a moment's notice was a fundamental principle of their society. Mobility was reflected in their lack of material possessions. Life was not simple, however, a relatively large number of people were able to survive with limited natural resources.

Presently, the Mi'kmaq Nation consists of a total of 27 Bands located in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Quebec.

In Nova Scotia there are 13 Mi'kmaq Bands, five of which can be found on Cape Breton Island: Chapel Island, Eskasoni, Membertou, Wagmatcook and Waycobah.

GISOOLG
Gisoolg is the Great Spirit Creator who is the one who made everything. The work Gisoolg in Mi'kmaq means "you have been created." It also means "the one credited for your existence." The word does not imply gender. Gisoolg is not a He or a She, it is not important whether the Great Spirit is a He or a She. The Mi’kmaq people do not explain how the Great Spirit came into existence only that Gisoolg is responsible for everything being where it is today. Gisoolg made everything.

From the Micmac Heritage Gallery Catalogue

Click here to view the poem “I Lost My Talk”
written by Mi'kmaq poet Rita Joe, and spoken by Rita Joe in DRUM!