Mi’Kmaw Hieroglyphic Writing or Suckerfish Script (Mi’Kmawi’sit: Gomgwejui’gasit) was a writing system for the Mi’Kmaw language, later superseded by various Latin scripts which are currently in use. Mi’Kmaw are a Canadian First Nation whose homeland, called Mi’kma’ki, overlaps much of the Maritime provinces, specifically all of Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and parts of New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador.
These glyphs, or gomgwejui’gaqan, were derived from a pictograph and petroglyph tradition, and are logograms, with phonetic elements used alongside, including logographic, alphabetic, and idiographic information. The gomgwejui’gasultijig take their name from the gomgwej (plural: gomgwejg) or sucker fish whose tracks are visibly left on the muddy river bottom. Since Mi’Kmawi’sit uses several spelling systems, other ways to call Suckerfish script include: komqwejwi’kasikl or gomgwejui’gas’gl.
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Mi’Kmaw is an Eastern Algonquian language spoken by nearly 11,000 Mi’Kmaw in Canada and the United States.
We facilitate learning of the Francis-Smith orthography. The Francis-Smith orthography was developed in the 1970s by Doug Smith and Bernard Francis. It is the most used Mi’Kmaw orthography used today.
https://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Mi%27kmaq_language/Orthographies
Information about the Mi’Kmaq:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mi’Kmaq_language
http://www.native-languages.org/mikmaq.htm
http://mrc.uccb.ns.ca/mikmaq.html
Films from our Mi’Kmaw Teaching Program
A compilation the teachings films we have developed over the years with help from the actual learning participants can be found here:
Flat Bay Band Inc. Mi’kmaw Language Teaching Film Series
Click on the title to watch the teaching film:
Opposites: Animate and Inanimate
Ownership and Possessive Nouns
Basic Conversation – Sight Words
Basic Conversation – Greetings and Farewells
Basic Conversation – Questions and Answers
Verb Conjugation – Present Tense
Verb Conjugation – Past and Future Tenses
Tapu’sijik Paqtesmuk – Two Wolves
Mi’Kmaw Language Websites
Mi’Kmaw Language Learners Facebook Page – a partnership between the Flat Bay Band Inc. and Mikmaw Heritage Research & Restoration Association to help develope the Mi’kmaw language.
Click on the title to see more language teaching websites:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1820676534878504
Mi’Kmaq Online – An online talking dictionary of Mi’Kmaw words, searchable in Mi’Kmaw or English. Each word is pronounced by at least three speakers.
Jilaptoq – Jilaptoq Language centre amalgamates resources, stories, prayers, books, and other learning resources in Mi’Kmaw.
Native Council of Nova Scotia (NCNS) – The NCNS has a language resource library, language workbooks, and other learning materials. Contact them for more information about what they have available.
Mi’gmaq Language Group -Learn Mi’qmaq Online hosts beginner vocabulary lessons. Each lesson features advice and information about how the words fit into the language contextually. Complete the lessons in order to help with the language structure and rhythm before moving on to words and phrases.
Learn Mi’gmaq – Mi’Kmaw flashcards
https://www.mikmakicraftsupplies.com/product-page/flash-cards
First Voices Mi’Kmaw Community Portal – Language resources including games, keyboard help, and a kids’ portal.
Pemaptoq – A daily word Twitter account.
Mi’Kmawey Debert Cultural Centre – This site includes recordings of elders’ stories, resources for language and education, information about Mi’Kmaq communities, and more.
Atlantic Canada’s First Nation Help Desk – Aboriginal Language – A collection of resources for language learning, including lessons, vocabulary, songs, stories, etc.
https://firstnationhelp.com/ali/
Mi’Kmaw Language Phone Apps
Click on the titles to find language teaching phone apps
Ksite’taqn – A flashcard app with Common Mi’Kmaw Phrases Relating to Children and Childcare
https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/ksitetaqn/id1471810154
L’nui’suti – Common Mi’Kmaq Words and Phrases
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mk.myapplication&hl=en_CA&gl=US&pli=1
Tal-Tluen? – Mi’Kmaw Phrase-Building app
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mk.tal_tluen&hl=en_CA&gl=US
Ktapekiaqnn – A Collection of Mi’Kmaw Songs and Poems
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ktapekiaqnn/id961275858
ESL Sight Words / Klusuaqnn – An app to Support Learning at home
https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/esk-sight-words/id961287457
Astue’kl – Mi’Kmaw Opposites Game
https://www.kinu.ca/app/astue-kl
Alasutmaqn – Common prayers and songs in Mi’Kmaq
https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/alasutmaqn/id1169673503
Other Mi’Kmaw Language Resources
Click on the titles to find more language teaching resources
Examples of the Various Written Forms of Mi’Kmaq
Mi’Kmaq Pronunciation and Spelling Guide
Online Mi’Kmaq Lessons
http://www.firstnationhelp.com/ali/
http://www.learn.migmaq.org
Activities, Stories, Mi’Kmaq Books, and Legends
The Mi’Kmaq call themselves L’nu’k, meaning “the people.” The term Mi’Kmaq comes from the word nikmak, meaning “my kin-friends.” Our word “wigwam” comes from the Mi’Kmaq “wikuom”, a dwelling. Wigwams were usually put up by the women and could be built in a day.
What do Mi’Kmaq People Believe?
Mi’kmaw culture is NOT a religion. The Mi’kmaw culture is a philosophical way of living a holistic way of life; which is a blend of applying practical methods and spiritual awareness.
Spiritually, Mi’kmaw people believe that ALL life was created by one, all-powerful Being, the ultimate Creator. They see themselves as merely being one life-being within a natural world of many life beings. This world view is the foundation for their interdependence and interconnection with all aspects of the natural world.
Respect is the basic element of Mi’Kmaw spirituality and the belief that all living things on earth have a spirit (including humans and animals) make it important to show reverence for life. Every aspect of life and death is holistic and connected, one to the other.
Therefore, unlike religion it tends to rely on the natural order of things and criticize man-made belief systems.
Having said that, many Mi’kmaw people follow various religions, while still honoring their Mi’kmaw philosophy. In fact, Mi’kmaw people were among the first indigenous peoples to accept Jesuit teachings and to intermarry with the settlers of New France.