Mi'kmaq History Month or Mi’kmaw History Month is promoted annually in Nova Scotia as a month dedicated to building public awareness of Mi'kmaw culture and heritage, taking place in the month of October. It was proclaimed in 1993 by then-Premier John Savage and Mi'kmaq Grand Chief Ben Sylliboy.
The month of October was chosen because, in the British–Mi'kmaq Treaty of 1752, October 1st was designated as the date on which the Mi’kmaw people would receive gifts from the Crown to "renew their friendship and submissions." This day is celebrated as Treaty Day in Nova Scotia.
Activities and events that share and showcase Mi’kmaw history take place across Nova Scotia. Events in schools include in-class studies, assemblies, special events and visits from special guests. Other events include the annual Wagmatcook Aboriginal Arts and Culture Festival, lectures, flag raising, and basket-making workshops.
Years Some Mi'kmaq History Month posters have had a theme. The taglines have been recorded here as they are on English posters. The posters are available in Mi'kmaw, English, and French, and can be downloaded from the official website. They are also distributed in schools throughout the province.
1998/1999/2001 - Reflections of the Past, Realities of the Present, Dreams of the Future. 2000- Share a Moment, Share a Culture 2003- Striving for a Better Tomorrow 2004- Sharing Our Culture Through Music, Song, and Dance 2005- Remembering Our Smaknisk 2006- Mi’kmaq Sante’ Mawio’mi • Traditional Mi’kmaw Leadership 2007- Pa'skite'kemk • Mi'kmaw Basketry 2008 - Ta'n Telo'ltipmi'k L'nu Mi'kma'kik • How the Mi'kmaq Live in Mi'kma'kik 2009 - L’nuey Maskwiey Pqa’w Kwitn • Mi’kmaw Birchbark Canoe 2010 - A Culture to Celebrate, a Time to Share • Miwiwatmik Ta’n Telo’ltimk, I’kaq Mawi-apoqnmatultimk 2011 - Sites of Cultural and Sacred Significance 2012- "All My Relations" 2013 - Kawie'l Pu'taliewe'l • Porcupine Quill Baskets 2014 - Communication 2015 - Wapna’kikewaq • People of the Dawn 2016 - Reconciliation & Resilience (Also "30 Years of Mi'kmaq Treaty Day"). 2017 - Innovations and Legacies 2018 - World War One Mi'kmaq Veterans 2019 - L'nui'sultinej • Let's Speak Mi'kmaw 2020 - Sqaliaqnn Tel-nenmumkl aqq Tel-we’wmumkl • Plant Knowledge and Use 2021 - Exploring Treaties and Treaty Relationships 2022 - Mi’kmaw Beadwork & the Art of Beading 2023 - Mi’kmaw Sports, Traditional Games, and Pastimes. This theme was chosen as in 2023, K’jipuktuk was the host site for the North American Indigenous Games. 2024 - Food and its significance in Mi'kmaw culture 2025 - A’tukwemk aq A’tukowinu’k – Storytelling and Storytellers
References
External links
Wi'kipatmu'k Mi'kmawey – Honoring of the Mi'kmaw way