Mikmaq

The Míkmaq are an Indigenous People of the north-eastern woodlands of North America, including: Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick (eastern, northern, and southern), Québec (Gaspé Peninsula), Newfoundland, (western, southern, and eastern), Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Saint-Pierre et Miquelon, and Maine (north-eastern). Míkmaq land is known as Míkmákik.

The Míkmaq were one of the first Indigenous People of North America to make contact with European visitors, the Norse in 1000 A.D., Basque fishermen in 1372 A.D., Prince Henry Sinclair in 1398 A.D., Bristol fishermen in 1490-93 A.D., Giovanni Caboto in 1497 A.D., Gaspar de Corte-Real in 1500 A.D.

The Míkmaq continue to fight for recognition of their sovereignty, which was never surrendered.

Today there are about 25,000 Status Míkmaq living on and off Reserves in Canada and the U.S.A., and about another 25,000+ Non-Status Míkmaq.

Useful Terms:

Míkmaq - [Nationality] (plural) "The Allies" or "My Kin/Friends"

Míkmaw - [Nationality] (singular) "The Allies" or "My Kin/Friends"

Awitkatultík - [Nation] "Many People Living In One House"

Míkmaq Nation - [Nation] Interchangable with "Awitkatultík"

Santé Mawiómi - [Government] "Holy Gathering" or "Grand Council"
Maqtewékpaqtism, 29 May 2001

The Míkmaq National flag has three colors, white, red, and blue, signifying the three divine persons, The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit.

The cross signifies Christ who was crucified on the Cross.

The letters: N,A,M,T are very significant:

• N - Nin (I or Me)
• A - Alasotmoinoi (being a Catholic)
• M - Mento (gisna gil mentoin (devil))
• T - Tooe ot Tooa (get out - go out)

Nin Alasotmoinoi gil Mento Tooe (I am a Catholic, you are a devil, get out)

• SA - means Saint Anne (Patron Saint of the Míkmaq since 1730).
• MIGMAG - Míkmaq (The Allies)
• LNOG - L'núk (The People)

The flag was first raised in Listukujk (Listuguj, P.Q.) on October 4, 1900 and in Kjipuktuk (Halifax, N.S.) in 1901.
Maqtewékpaqtism, 29 May 2001

Commonly referred to as the Santé Mawiómi flag or the Grand Council flag.

The meaning of the Míkmaq Nation Flag: