Treaty Day
In 1986, the then Grand Chief Donald Marshall Sr. proclaimed every October 1st as Treaty Day to commemorate the key role of treaties in the relationship between the Nova Scotia Mi’kmaq and the Crown.
The annual ceremony reaffirms the historic presence of the Mi’kmaw who have occupied the land for thousands of years. The Mi’kmaq Nation and the crown also exchange gifts to mark each October 1st. By celebrating Treaty Day, we are giving thanks to the Mi’kmaw and the Crown for signing treaties of peace and friendship.
People continue to gather in Halifax, and their home communities, on October 1st to participate and enjoy various cultural events in celebration of Treaty Day. It is a reunion for many Mi’kmaq and a time for people to learn a part of Nova Scotia’s 12,000-year-old history.
Events
From lectures to workshops to dance lessons, Dal hosts a series of Mi'kmaq History Month events each year.
Upcoming events will be posted here as they are scheduled.
Mawio'mi
The Dalhousie Mawio’mi, now in it's 14th year, was started by a group of Indigenous students wanting to connect and share their culture within the Dalhousie space. Today, the Indigenous Student Centre manages the Mawio'mi with the help of community, students, and staff. Each year the big drum, dancers, vendors, and other performers gather to celebrate and share culture on the Studley Quad (McInnes Room Rain Location). This is the largest Indigenous event on campus, with opportunity to meet Mi’kmaq and other Indigenous attendees, take part in culture, purchase from unique vendors, and enjoy lunch.
Learning resources
Please note this is a non-exhaustive list of resources that we have compiled. If you are aware of additional resources not included here, please contact the Educator Advisor, Amanda Wilneff via HRES@dal.ca.
- Amazing L'nu'k : A Celebration of the People of Mi'kma'ki by Julie Pellissier-Lush & Robin Grant
- Language of this Land Mi'kma'ki by Trudy Sable
- Mi'kmaq Medicines: Remedies and Recollections by Laurie Lacey
- Epekwitk: Mi'kmaq Poetry From Prince Edward Island by Julie Pellissier-lush
- Song of Rita Joe: Autobiography of a Mi'kmaq Poet by Rita Joe
- Taapoategl & Pallet: A Mi'kmaq Journey of Loss & Survival by Peter J Clair
- Mi'kmaq Treaties on Trial: History, Land, and Donald Marshall Junior by William C. Wicken
- The Marshall Decision and Native Rights: The Marshall Decision and Mi'kmaq Rights in the Maritimes by Ken Coates
- Real Justice: Convicted for Being Mi'kmaq: The story of Donald Marshall Jr. by Bill Swan
- Mi'kmaq Puoinaq Two Spirit Medicine: Sexuality and Gender Variance, Spirituality and Culture by Joseph Randolph Bowers and Daniel N Paul
- Indian School Road: Legacies of the Shubenacadie Residential School by Chris Benjamin
- Living Treaties: Narrating Mi'kmaw Treaty Relations by Marie Battiste
- My Mi'kmaq Mother Nkij by Julie Pellissier-Lush
- Visiting With Our Mi'kmaq Elders by Jasen Sylvester Benwah & Benoit First Nation
- The Art of Mi'kmaw Basketry by shalan joudry
- Mitji- Let's Eat!: Mi'kmaq Recipes from Sikniktuk by Margaret Augustine & Dr. Lauren Beck
- Doug Knockwood, Mi'kmaw Elder: Stories, Memories, Reflections by Doug Knockwood
- Stories From the Six Worlds: Mi'kmaw Legends by Ruth Holmes Whitehead
- Muinji'j Asks Why: The Story Of The Mi'kmaq And The Shubenacadie
- Seeds of Spring by Christopher Coquard
- Mi’kmaw Wisisk = Mi’kmaw Animals by Alan Syliboy
- Counting in Mi’kmaw by Loretta Gould
- Muin and the Seven Bird Hunters: A Mi’kmaw Night Sky Story by Kisi Amalwi’kmi’tij
- Kepmite’taqney Ktapekiaqn – Le chant d’honneur – The Honour Song by Gregory Paul
- Walking Together by Elder Dr. Albert D. Marshall & Louise Zimanyi
- Mi’kmaw Moons: The Seasons in Mi'kma'ki by Cathy LeBlanc & David Chapman
- Mi'kmaq Campfire Stories of Prince Edward Island by Julie Pellissier-Lush
- The Sharing Circle: Stories about First Nations Culture by Theresa Meuse
- Mi'kmaw Animals by Alan Syliboy
- Mi'kmaw Daily Drum: Mi'kmaw Culture for Every Day of the Week by Alan Syliboy
- Come, Walk With Me by Nyanza Julian
- I Lost My Talk by Rita Joe
- Native Currents with Steven Vanloffeld and Glenn Wheeler
- Mi'kmaq Matters
- 'Pjilasi Mi'kma'ki' with Annie Clair
- Mi’kmaq History Month Video Collection
- Nova Scotia Office of Aboriginal Affairs Video Collection
- National Film Board Video Collection
- Halifax Public Libraries Video Collection
- Mi'kmaq of NS Nationhood Proclamation by the KMK & Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi'kmaw Chiefs
- Do You Speak My Language: Mi'kmaw at First Nations School in Nova Scotia
- The Journey of the Mi'kmaq by the Wagmatcook Culture and Heritage Centre
- Water Warriors: Nothing in This World Can Live Without Water by New Day Films
- Educational Posters by the Mi’Kmaq History Month Committee
- Nova Scotia Museum's Mi'kmaq Portraits Collection
- Niniskamijinaqik / Ancestral Images: The Mi'kmaq in Art and Photography by Ruth Holmes Whitehead
- L'Nu'k: The People: Mi'kmaw History, Culture and Heritage by Theresa Meuse
- Ta’n Weji-sqalia’tiek: Mi’kmaw Place Names (Digital Map)
- Peace and Friendship Treaties at the Nova Scotia Archives
- It’s Our Time Education Toolkit by Assembly of First Nations
- Indigenous Ally Toolkit by Montreal Urban Aboriginal Community Strategy Network
- PDF copies of current and past Mi'kmaq History Month posters