On September 12, 2011 the Hernewood Intermediate Junior high School and John J. Sark Elementary students were invited to take part in a Ceremony in Charlottetown ~ The students sang O'kanata in Mi'kmaq and also did a Mi'kma'ki Mawio'mi honourable Speech in Mi'kmaq and English. The Mi'kmaq Lennox Island Students were astonishing, in addition they demonstrated the Pride and Respect in their Culture.
The Ceremony was about the Memorial Service on the 400th Anniversary of Mi'kmaq National Grand Chief ( Saqamaw) Henri Membertou. He was one of the great leaders of his generation and, indeed, a great leader for all generations and also we pay tribute to all the Mi'kmaq veterans ( Sma'knisk) who bravely fought for Canada in World War I, War II and the Korean War, as well as those who served around the world as peacekeepers.
Mi'kmaq Culture and Language In Hernewood Intermediate School is a great opportunity for Lennox Island students
My name is Doris Googoo and I teach Mi'kmaq Culture and Language. I am so honored to teach Mi'kmaq Language and History in the Provincial School. I am also looking forward in sharing our Culture and Language here on this site. I should start by sharing with you my background in Education and Family life. I graduated from University of Cape Breton with Community Studies degree, Mc Gill University with Northern Education & Aboriginal Literacy, and S.T.F.X. University with Bachelor of Education degree. I am so grateful for all the people in my life who made this possible for me. My Family ( Ni'kmaq) is the first on my list of gratitude, followed by all the educators and Professors that inspired me, my employment in We'koqmaq, while I was going to University, and I cannot forget all the babysitters that gave up their time to watch over my young one....Rachael. :)
I am so grateful for all the students I had taught in the nine years in Elementary & Junior high Schools. The Students and I from the past and including present have been able to exchange knowledge and communicate their thoughts and their difficulties. Just keep in mind...For any person understanding any language it takes time and Patience. I am grateful for the people that graduated in technoloy and brought their knowledge into the education system because it’s easier when it comes down to learning the language and Culture. As a Mi'kmaq teacher I am continuously looking for ways to teach the Mi'kmaq language & Our history in more of a fun learning experience in the classroom or maybe at a field trip, or even just outdoors here at Hernewood Intermediate School.
Anyways... Now, I want to take the time by introducing the Mi'kmaq Orthography and sounds.
Mi'kmaq Orthography
In 1970, Doug and Bernie Francis developed a writing system. The Mi'kmaw sound system has 27 sounds and are represented by 18 characters, which are:
Consonants
P T K Q J S L M N W Y
Vowels
A E I O U and the schwa ( i ) with a line in the middle.
There are 27 distinctive Mi'kmaw sounds, which are
P T K Q J S L M N W Y
A E I O U and the schwa ( i ) with a line in the middle.
Long vowels A' E' I' O' U'
Long Consonants L' M' N'
Keep in mind the letters P T and K are considered voiced when they are followed by a vowel. Therefore they take on the different sound
P would sound like a B
T would sound like a D
K would sound like a G
More important information on these consonants so we understand how they are used in the Mi'kmaq language and so we can read the Mi'kmaq Language.
When the P T K are followed by a vowel or are between two vowels they are always voiced.
Meaning the sounds changes P/b t/d k/ G
Lets now talk about the double consonants..... PP, TT, KK, are voiceless.
Therefore they are the P , t , and k sounds.
The r in the Mi'kmaw alphabet is subbitted with an l in words like Mali - Mary Pie'l - Peter etc.
When the buzz of the vibrating vocal cords is heard as the sound is made, the sound is called voiced.
There are many Mi'kmaq words that are spelled the same but have different meanings. The difference is in the short and long vowels. These are just a few examples:
epit - He/she is sitting elatiek - we look alike api - bow ikal - defend him/her Mawi - together
e'pit - a woman ela'tiek - we are going a'pi - net ika'l - Let him / her go Ma'wi - I am Kissing
Kesalul - I love you
Kesa'lul - I hurt you
Ke'sa'lul - I throw you in the fire
Consonants
P T K Q J S L M N W Y
Vowels
A E I O U and the schwa ( i ) with a line in the middle.
There are 27 distinctive Mi'kmaw sounds, which are
P T K Q J S L M N W Y
A E I O U and the schwa ( i ) with a line in the middle.
Long vowels A' E' I' O' U'
Long Consonants L' M' N'
Keep in mind the letters P T and K are considered voiced when they are followed by a vowel. Therefore they take on the different sound
P would sound like a B
T would sound like a D
K would sound like a G
More important information on these consonants so we understand how they are used in the Mi'kmaq language and so we can read the Mi'kmaq Language.
When the P T K are followed by a vowel or are between two vowels they are always voiced.
Meaning the sounds changes P/b t/d k/ G
Lets now talk about the double consonants..... PP, TT, KK, are voiceless.
Therefore they are the P , t , and k sounds.
The r in the Mi'kmaw alphabet is subbitted with an l in words like Mali - Mary Pie'l - Peter etc.
When the buzz of the vibrating vocal cords is heard as the sound is made, the sound is called voiced.
There are many Mi'kmaq words that are spelled the same but have different meanings. The difference is in the short and long vowels. These are just a few examples:
epit - He/she is sitting elatiek - we look alike api - bow ikal - defend him/her Mawi - together
e'pit - a woman ela'tiek - we are going a'pi - net ika'l - Let him / her go Ma'wi - I am Kissing
Kesalul - I love you
Kesa'lul - I hurt you
Ke'sa'lul - I throw you in the fire
Sharing Photographs provides more insight to Parents, Students, and Visitors. I will also be sharing classroom presentations that already took place here in Hernewood on Mi'kmaq Aboriginal Awareness week. I do strongly believe sharing photograghs gives you a better vision on the Mi'kmaq Program and Mi'kmaq teacher here in Hernewood Intermediate Junior High School. :)
Mi'kmaq Culture Resource
Here is some of the resources if you want to read up on some of our Mi'kmaq Culture and look at some pictures. :)
Welalin ~ Judy Clark for this extra information
http://www.gov.ns.ca/abor/education/other-resources/
http://www.gov.ns.ca/abor/docs/other-resources/First-Nation-Spirituality.pdf
http://www.ncpei.com/userfiles/file/powwow_guide/powwow_guide.pdf
http://www.ncpei.com/userfiles/file/powwow_guide/powwow_guide.pdf
http://www.nationtalk.ca/ http://www.ncpei.com/userfiles/file/powwow_guide/powwow_guide.pdf
Welalin ~ Judy Clark for this extra information
http://www.gov.ns.ca/abor/education/other-resources/
http://www.gov.ns.ca/abor/docs/other-resources/First-Nation-Spirituality.pdf
http://www.ncpei.com/userfiles/file/powwow_guide/powwow_guide.pdf
http://www.ncpei.com/userfiles/file/powwow_guide/powwow_guide.pdf
http://www.nationtalk.ca/ http://www.ncpei.com/userfiles/file/powwow_guide/powwow_guide.pdf
Links / Examples of the various written forms of Míkmaq
http://198.62.75.1/www1/pater/JPN-micmac.html
Online Míkmaq lessons
http://www.firstnationhelp.com/ali/
Míkmaq Pronunciation and Spelling Guide
http://www.native-languages.org/mikmaq_guide.htm
Information about the Míkmaq
http://museum.gov.ns.ca/arch/infos/mikmaq1.htm
http://mrc.uccb.ns.ca/mikmaq.html
Míkmaq Resource Centre
http://mrc.uccb.ns.ca
Online Míkmaq dictionaries
http://www.mikmaqonline.org
http://www.lib.unb.ca/Texts/Maliseet/dictionary/