> Are there any good sources treating the history of the Micmac?
> I think they were inhabitants of what Canadians call the "maritimes"--
> New Brunswick, PEI, etc. I once found a lexicon of the language (com-
> piled by researchers I think), but haven't been able to get any other
> information. It looked like the language was in the Algonquin group, but
> I'm not sure.
>
> If anyone knows where the tribe is still active in any areas of
> New Brunswick, PEI or Cape Breton, I would like to find a contact (I am
> trying to find out about an ancestor of mine).
>
> I would greatly appreciate any information or help you can give.
> Please email me (caredhel@leland.stanford.edu) with any responses.
>
> Thanks,
>
> --Cari
I spent a couple of weeks with MicMacs on PEI in the summer of 1980. I
guess what I have to say is not current (or pleasant), but I hope it is
useful to you and of interest to the group.
I met several native men in a bar in Summerside, PEI during a trip I
took to the maritimes. They identified themselves as MicMac. I got into
a lengthy conversation with them, and was invited to spend some time in
their community.
Contrary to my experiences with other native nations across Canada at
the time (primarily Cree, Chipwayan, Oujibway) it seems that their
native way of life was all but dead. I was told that their were only
one or two old people who could still speak the language, the community
was demoralized and extremely poor. All but a handful, it seems,
survived on welfare, a few were lobster fishermen and some others
worked at odd jobs and such.
I recall being so depressed at the conditions there, that I went out
and spent a couple of hundred dollars out of my meager funds for
groceries, since the house I was staying in lacked all but the most
basic food.
I witnessed no indications that they had any cultural heritage left.
Clearly my impressions are only the result of a single experience with
a single community, so I do not put them forward as representative of
the MicMacs in general, although I suspect they are. Recall that they
were virtually at the point of first contact with Europeans so it would
not be too surprising if that was indeed the case.
Again, I look back with great sadness on that experience, especially
after I had experienced the cultural strength and determination of the
western nations.
I hope you find what you are looking for. I would also appreciate it
very much if you or any one else could update me on their present
condition.
Regards
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