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Indigenous Resources: Pjila'si (Welcome)

This guide provides access to resources on Indigenous history, communities, and culture in Canada and NS, as well as government documents. It was developed in consultation with members of the Indigenous community in Nova Scotia and NSCC.

Land Acknowledgement

NSCC acknowledges we are in Mi’kma’ki – the unceded territory and ancestral homeland of the Mi’kmaq Nation. Our relationship is based on a series of Peace and Friendship treaties between the Mi’kmaq Nation and the Crown, dating back to 1725. In Nova Scotia we recognize that We are All Treaty People.

 

Image:L'nu Mawita'jik
Beadwork designed by Madonna Johnson. Madonna is an artist from Eskasoni, Unama'ki. She designed the beadwork on the pins worn by Indigenous graduates at Marconi Campus convocation.

October is Mi'kmaw History Month

 

poster depicting sports activities

Mi’kmaw Sports, Traditional Games and Pastimes

2023 marks the 30th Anniversary of the Proclamation recognizing October as Mi’kmaw History Month, and team at Mi’kmawey Debert proudly shares this year's version of the annual poster. The team at Mi’kmawey Debert, including renowned Mi’kmaw artist
Gerald Gloade and content developers designed the poster to highlight the role that
that sports, games and pastimes play in developing young minds. 

For more info, visit the Mi'kmaw History Month website

Books

We Were Not the Savages : A Mi'kmaq Perspective on the Collision between European and Native American Civilizations
Daniel Paul: Mi'kmaw Elder
Structures of Indifference: An Indigeous lfe and death in a Canadian city
Decolonizing and Indigenizing Education in Canada
Suffer the Little Children: Genocide, Indigenous Nations and the Canadian State
Mi'kmaq: People of the Maritimes
African Nova Scotian-Mi`kmaw Relations
Indigenous Writes: A guide to First Nations, Metis, & Inuit Issues in Canada
Research As Resistance: Critical, Indigenous and anti-oppressive approaches
Aboriginal Autonomy and Development in Northern Quebec-Labrador

Heritage Day 2023 - Elder Rita Joe

 

Since 2015, the province of Nova Scotia has acknowledged
Heritage Day on the third Monday of February. This day is an
opportunity to look back and honour remarkable people, places
and events that havecontributed to Nova Scotia’s heritage. 

The 2023 honouree is Elder Rita Joe, a member of the We’koqma’q
Mi’kmaq Community and published author who has led the way and
encouraged Mi’kmaq authors to write poems, stories, written words
and plays. The beautiful works of this “Gentle Warrior” have also
helped foster a better understanding of and appreciation for the
Mi’kmaq language, culture and history. 

 

To learn more about Elder Rita Joe and read her poem "I Lost My Talk"
visit the Nova Scotia Heritage Day website.

 Poster depicting Rita Joe and her books

 

Start Your Learning

Indigenous History & Studies

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Learning from Knowledge Keepers of Mi’kma’ki is Cape Breton University’s free, online, open-access Indigenous course designed to share knowledge and intercultural dialogue. The course explores the rich history, culture, and wisdom of Indigenous peoples in Mi’kma’ki and across Canada.

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Indigenous Canada is a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) from the University of Alberta Faculty of Native Studies that explores Indigenous histories and contemporary issues in Canada. From an Indigenous perspective, this course explores key issues facing Indigenous peoples today from a historical and critical perspective highlighting national and local Indigenous-settler relations.

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Decolonization Learning Journey is a 4-part webinar series hosted by the Community Sector Council of Nova Scotia, in partnership with CBU Unama'ki College. It was designed as a response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action. These sessions are presented by Mi'kmaq Elders and knowledge sharers and are designed to enhance personal reflection and to begin to open a dialogue on how to implement change in organizations.

iPortal

Off-Campus Access

In order to support NSCC students, staff and faculty teaching and learning from home, the majority of the resources listed here are electronic. These include e-books, articles, videos and websites. You can use NSCC Libraries' e-resources off-site by logging in with your w# and password (the same login information you use for your NSCC email). Please see the eBook Guide for help viewing and borrowing eBooks.