The Mi’kmaq of Nova Scotia Archives Collection – Curated by Dr. Trudy Sable

Archive Collection:
The Mi'kmaq of Nova Scotia Archives Collection - Curated by Dr. Trudy Sable
Participants:

Date:

Location:

Files:

Citation:
Keywords:

The Mi’kmaq of Nova Scotia Archives Collection – Curated by Dr. Trudy Sable: Vision and Acknowledgments

When Pam Glode-Desrochers, Executive Director of the Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Center, and I first discussed this archival project in 2018, our vision was first and foremost to return research back to the Mi’kmaw communities and to the individuals and families involved with the research. We also hoped to initiate an archive to further public knowledge of Mi’kmaw history and culture through the first-hand experiences of those interviewed. With additional support from Roger Lewis, Curator of Mi’kmaw Culture and Heritage, Nova Scotia Museum, we subsequently received a federal Canadian Heritage Aboriginal Language Initiatives Program Grant for its undertaking. 

The research in this collection touches upon a wide range of topics including Mi’kmaw language and world view; Mi’kmaw dances, songs, chants, and stories; centralization; residential school; Mi’kmaw veterans; Mi’kmaw baseball and sports history; Mi’kmaw religion, ceremonies, and spirituality; Mi’kmaw governance and politics including resistance; and Mi’kmaw arts/crafts and means of livelihood. Sadly, many of the people who generously participated in these interviews and cultural events since 1989 have passed away. Through archiving their interviews, we hope to honour their contribution to the history and cultural traditions of their people and express our deep gratitude to them and their families for sharing their experiences and knowledge.

All of the interviews offered in this collection are approved to be shared by the individual interviewee or one or more surviving family members. Each recording and transcript include information regarding how to cite the material, as well as information about the person, place, project, date, and resulting publication or resource, if any.  Some supplemental material, such as biographies, Mi’kmaw translations of terms and text, and pictures, are included with hopes of adding more in the coming years.

I also would like to thank and acknowledge the following people for their roles in helping this site come to fruition:

  • Kenny Prosper and Bernie Francis for their translations and transliterations of terms and text into the Smith/Francis orthography;
  • Stephanie Raymond, Cheyenne Labrador, Jennifer Paul, Lena McCulloch and the staff of the MNFC for their support throughout the process; as well as Israel Rikihana and Miki Brooks for website maintenance and updating;
  • Peter Gravel, PRG Audio Visual for his care and perseverance digitizing and creating a data base for all the recordings, as well as his ongoing troubleshooting; 
  • Kayla Wilson, Membertou Data Centre, for her diligence and patience creating the Archive website for the Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre, and the support of both Kayla and Jason Googoo throughout the process in working with me on the collection;
  • Tammy Morris-Williams; Christopher Mosher; Julia McKaig; Salina Kemp; Rita Armbruster; and James Babbitt for transcribing assistance;
  • Rickey Pannell for initial assistance in the website design;
  • My husband, David Sable, for his assistance in creating the budget for the grant, and his ongoing feedback and input into site development and technological issues, and my daughter, Julia, for her continued support and feedback. 

Constructive feedback or additional information and content contributions are welcome. 

With Gratitude,

Trudy Sable, PhD

TGS Research Management and Educational Consultants, Halifax, Nova Scotia

The Mi’kmaq of Nova Scotia Archives Collection – Curated by Dr. Trudy Sable: Vision and Acknowledgments When Pam Glode-Desrochers, Executive Director of the Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Center, and I first discussed this archival project in 2018, our vision was first and foremost to return research back to the Mi’kmaw communities and to the individuals and families involved with the research. We also hoped to initiate an archive to further public knowledge of Mi’kmaw history and culture through the first-hand experiences of those interviewed. With additional support from Roger Lewis, Curator of Mi’kmaw Culture and Heritage, Nova Scotia Museum, we subsequently received a federal Canadian Heritage Aboriginal Language Initiatives Program Grant for its undertaking.  The research in this collection touches upon a wide range of topics including Mi’kmaw language and world view; Mi’kmaw dances, songs, chants, and stories; centralization; residential school; Mi’kmaw veterans; Mi’kmaw baseball and sports history; Mi’kmaw religion, ceremonies, […]