Found along the East coast of Canada, Mi’kmaq (Micmac) people are argued to be the first Indigenous Peoples of Canada to come into full contact with European settlers. As a result, Mi’kmaq have experienced years of challenges in trying to maintain language, culture, health, wellbeing, and spirituality. Yet, through many hardships like the Canadian Indian Act and Canadian Indian Residential Schools, Mi’kmaq people have still be able to maintain their language and original teachings in ways that is often looked highly upon by other Canadian Indigenous tribes. This session will cover the basics of Mi’kmaq ideology and ways of beings and will give participants an idea of some of the challenges Mi’kmaq people have had to face throughout the years, along with their successes. Through a personal Mi’kmaq perspective (being Mi’kmaq myself) this session will engage participants on how to become involved in the Indigenous community on all levels, in a way that supports the promotion of health and wellbeing and strengthens Indigenous language, culture, and spirituality. It will describe how Mi’kmaq cultural teachings are often used within Mi’kmaq political leadership, and how in using these teachings there is often an emphasis on maintaining the traditional knowledge throughout many policies. Lastly, this session will speak to the Mi’kmaq concept called ‘Etuaptmamk’ meaning, ‘Two-Eyed Seeing’, a concept of bring together traditional Indigenous perspectives and Western perspectives in a way that makes the best of both worlds without having to compromise your traditional values or way of life.
If chosen for the ‘Interactive Worksop’ section of the conference participants will be walked through and will participate in two Mi’kmaq cultural activities known in English as a Mi’kmaq talking circle and Mi’kmaq drumming. Through the Mi’kmaq teachings of the traditional Mi’kmaq drum participants will be given a sense of the things Canadian Indigenous Peoples are taught daily and how understanding these teachings can help an individual become an Indigenous leader in their communities. The talking circle will conclude the session allowing time for participants to draw parallels between what they have learned throughout the workshop and their own personal experiences.
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