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I would like to point out that we are not Indians nor are we discendants of the peoples of India. This was a European slang that came from greedy merchants looking for a shorter route to India. The accidently "Discovered" continents of America were occupied by a great federation of many aboriginal peoples who lived in peace and harmony, for the most part, with each other before the invasion of the Europeans. Our people had great respect for the land and the animals. There was a natural balance and interaction that existed. Are we aboriginals and natives? Yes!
Our language is called L'nui'sin but since we are known as the Mi'kmaq, a slang on the phrase "my friends" that was a misunderstanding when the French came ....... we mostly call our language - Míkmawísimk - "Language of the Mi'kmaq". The Mi'kmaq Language is Algonquian, distinct from the Abenaki to the South and with some traits associated with the languages of the Montagnais and Cree in Quebec. (Check out the link to the Mi'kmaq On-line dictionary). Throughout the Mikmaq territories he Mi'kmaq language is still spoken at home in most communities and use either English or French as their second language. Overall though, we have been on the brink of losing the our native language and I hope it is revived and taught to all who want to enrich their lives. I, for one, hope to one day learn the language. On the Port au Port Peninsula, in Newfoundland (Ktaqmkuk ) french was often the first language- while our native language was not.
The Mi'kmaq are divided into a number of Sub-Tribes based on territory. The Mi'kmaq homeland (Mi'kma'ki) was traditionally divided into seven hunting districts, each with its own chief. In 1860 the Mi'kmaq added another district, Ktaqmkuk, for a total of eight. Ktaqmkuk (Tagamgoog) refers to southern Newfoundland. See Mi'kmaq History.
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Created January 27, 2002 Wantaqo'ti, (peace) Copyright © Benoit First Nation. All rights reserved