Mi'kmaq History Month

Mi'kmaq History Month is promoted annually in Nova Scotia as a way to build public awareness of Mi'kmaw culture and heritage. It begins on Treaty Day, October 1. It was proclaimed in 1993 by then Premier John Savage and Mi'kmaq Grand Chief Ben Sylliboy.

Activities and events that share and showcase Mi’kmaw history take place across Nova Scotia. Events in schools include in-class studies, assemblies, special events and visits from special guests. Other events include the annual Wagmatcook Aboriginal Arts and Culture Festival, lectures, flag raising, and basket-making workshops.

Years
Some Mi'kmaq History Month posters have had a theme. The taglines have been recorded here as they are on English posters. The posters are available in Mi'kmaw, English, and French, and can be downloaded from the official website. They are also distributed in schools throughout the province.

1998/1999/2001 - Reflections of the Past, Realities of the Present, Dreams of the Future.

2000- Share a Moment, Share a Culture

2003- Striving for a Better Tomorrow

2004- Sharing Our Culture Through Music, Song, and Dance

2005- Remembering Our Smaknisk

2006- Mi’kmaq Sante’ Mawio’mi • Traditional Mi’kmaw Leadership

2007- Pa'skite'kemk • Mi'kmaw Basketry

2008 - Ta'n Telo'ltipmi'k L'nu Mi'kma'kik • How the Mi'kmaq Live in Mi'kma'kik

2009 - L’nuey Maskwiey Pqa’w Kwitn • Mi’kmaw Birchbark Canoe

2010 - A Culture to Celebrate, a Time to Share • Miwiwatmik Ta’n Telo’ltimk, I’kaq Mawi-apoqnmatultimk

2011 - Sites of Cultural and Sacred Significance

2012- "All My Relations"

2013 - Kawie'l Pu'taliewe'l • Porcupine Quill Baskets

2014 - Communcation

2015 - Wapna’kikewaq • People of the Dawn

2016 - Reconciliation & Resilience (Also "30 Years of Mi'kmaq Treaty Day").

2017 - Innovations and Legacies

2018 - World War One Mi'kmaq Vetrans

2019 - L'nui'sultinej • Let's Speak Mi'kmaw

2020 - Sqaliaqnn Tel-nenmumkl aqq Tel-we’wmumkl • Plant Knowledge and Use

2021 - Exploring Treaties and Treaty Relationships

2022 - Mi’kmaw Beadwork & the Art of Beading

2023 - Mi’kmaw Sports, Traditional Games, and Pastimes. This theme was chosen as in 2023, K’jipuktuk was the host site for the North American Indigenous Games.