Essay on The Mi’kmaq Way of Life - 1311 Words

The Mi’kmaq Way of Life Mi’kmaq was the spelling of a tribe of Indians that had first contact with European explorers in the sixteenth and seventeenth century. Through the years, the name has been changed to what we know today as Mic Mac. The word Mi’kmaq derives from the word nikmak, which means â€Å"my kin-friends† or allies. The rich and descriptive Mi’kmaq language was a member of the Algonkin family. Although every Mi’kmaq can understand each other, the dialect varies between bands. For example, the Mi’kmaq spoken in Quebec differs from that in Nova Scotia. The Mi’kmaq tribe settled in southwestern New Foundland in 1630. They were the â€Å"first nation people† (Nova Scotia 1) of Nova Scotia and later also settled in New England. They are†¦show more content†¦A net, called an abi, was made with intertwined tree branches. The bait that they used for fishing was called wa’adegon. Fishhooks were made ou t of copper or a hook shaped bone that was sharpened at both ends. For larger fish, a leister was used. This tool was a three-pronged spear. There was a center point and two points that came out on each side of the middle point. Lobsters and shellfish were dug out of the seabed with sticks and roasted on coals, (Nova Scotia 2-3; Wallis and Wallis 27-28; Davis 27). Hunting meat changed when the seasons did. During the summer, animals such as moose, caribou, deer, beaver, and porcupine were stalked on foot. Porpoise, walrus, and seal were hunted in the water by canoe in the water. In the winter, they would break. A beavers dam and crack the ice in 40-50 different places. The beavers would then have to come out of the broken holes in the ice. Moose were the Mi’kmaq’s most productive food and were hunted from February to mid March. Meat and fish would then be dried and smoked to preserve them. Berries, roots and edible plants were also a source of food for the Mi’kmaq, (Nova Scotia 3; Davis 27). The gear used for hunting was mostly man made. Some of items used for hunting were animal bone, teeth, claws, hair, quills, shells, clay, stone, wood, roots and bark. Grinding stone to a sharp edge and a smooth surface made axes. Bows were made of fir, spruce or rock maple. Spears, knives andShow MoreRelatedIndigenous Peoples And Their Traditional Practices1509 Words   |  7 Pagesreligious, social, and cultural hardships that indigenous people in Canada as well as the United States have faced since the 1600s till the most recent times now. Particularly it touches upon the connections between the three main religious groups of the Mi’kmaq peoples Neo-Traditionalism, Traditionalism, and Catholicism. It also touches upon the many differences. 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