The first known person to earn a masters degree with a thesis written entirely
in the Micmac language was among those granted degrees at Saint Mary's
University's spring convocation on Monday.
Eleanor Johnson, from the Ekasoni reserve outside Sydney [Nova Scotia], was one
of 1,015 receiving degrees at the Metro Centre in Halifax, in the university's
largest ever graduation ceremony.
Mrs. Johnson graduated from the University College of Cape Breton with an
honours B.A. before selecting the Atlantic Canada Studies degree program
at Saint Mary's.
"All of the material you read about the Mi'kmaw (Micmac) people, the culture
and the language--all of it has been written by non-Mi'kmaw writers, said
Mrs. Johnson.
"Basically, our culture is oral. I felt it was time that the Mik'kmaw culture
and language was preserved and written down for future generations to learn
from and enjoy."
The thesis explores some traditional components of Micmac life.
And despite a style and subject matter that would be unfamiliar to many,
Mrs. Johnson said, "at Saint Mary's, I never felt like an outsider."
At Ekasoni, children have the opportunity to learn how to read and write
the Micmac language up to grade 6.
Mrs. Johnson, who has four children, hopes to help reserve children continue
learning in their native language.
"The way that the education system and the political system have been worked
out," she said, "the Mi'kmaw people...have been held down."
As a Micmac, "Once you look after you, it's up to you to give something
back to the community."
.....
Other commitments prevented Ovide Mercredi, national chief of the Assembly
of First Nations, from attending to receive an honourary doctorate of
civil law.
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