Mi’kmaq Mi’kmaq Spirituality and Spirituality and

Organized ReligionOrganized Religion

Main ConceptsMain Concepts

The spirituality of a people The spirituality of a people cannot be described on its cannot be described on its

ownown• It’s of what makes up their culture –It’s of what makes up their culture –

something that defines who they are .something that defines who they are .• It is not simply worship of a higher It is not simply worship of a higher

being or holding certain ceremonies.being or holding certain ceremonies.• It is people’s language and their songs, It is people’s language and their songs,

their stories and their dances.their stories and their dances.• It’s in how they live and interact with It’s in how they live and interact with

each other, and who and what they each other, and who and what they honour.honour.

Mi’kmaq Spiritual BeliefsMi’kmaq Spiritual Beliefs

• Very humble and ComplexVery humble and Complex• Very Old and dates back thousands Very Old and dates back thousands

of years and has a deep connection of years and has a deep connection to the land.to the land.

• Passed from one generation to the Passed from one generation to the next by the stories of and teachings next by the stories of and teachings of the Elders.of the Elders.

Spiritual BeliefsSpiritual Beliefs

• Kisu’lk ( the Creator) made the Kisu’lk ( the Creator) made the Universe and everything in it.Universe and everything in it.

• Plants, animals, people ,and Mother Plants, animals, people ,and Mother Earth have the Creator’s Spirit in Earth have the Creator’s Spirit in them and must be respected,them and must be respected,

• Since everything is connected on Since everything is connected on Earth, no part should be exploited or Earth, no part should be exploited or abused. ( Each part has to be in abused. ( Each part has to be in harmony with the rest)harmony with the rest)

Practices: How they display Practices: How they display their Spiritualitytheir Spirituality

• Through Rituals and Ceremonies Through Rituals and Ceremonies (acknowledging and giving thanks to a (acknowledging and giving thanks to a higher power)higher power)

• Praying ( for food, children, Elders, the Praying ( for food, children, Elders, the Creator)Creator)

• Celebrating life through funerary Celebrating life through funerary ceremonies( no concept of Hell)ceremonies( no concept of Hell)

• Symbols, Customs and TraditionsSymbols, Customs and Traditions• DreamsDreams

Spiritual WorldSpiritual World

• Mi’kmaq lived their spirituality.Mi’kmaq lived their spirituality.• Early settlers thought that the Early settlers thought that the

Mi’kmaq were believers of Mi’kmaq were believers of superstitions: they did not superstitions: they did not understand that the Mi’kmaq wee a understand that the Mi’kmaq wee a people of great spirituality and faith. people of great spirituality and faith. That’s why they tried to convert That’s why they tried to convert them to “ more organized” religious them to “ more organized” religious practices.practices.

The Spirit WorldThe Spirit World

• Traditional World/ Traditional World/ physical Worldphysical World

• Creator teaches to Creator teaches to gain knowledge gain knowledge from bothfrom both

• There are spirits There are spirits and people among and people among us who can bring us who can bring those worlds those worlds together.together.

• The Spirit WorldThe Spirit World• Kinap –a male spirit Kinap –a male spirit

with special powers with special powers that he uses to help that he uses to help the Mi’kmaqthe Mi’kmaq

• Puowin( male) or Puowin( male) or Puowini’skw Puowini’skw ( female)- a sorcerer ( female)- a sorcerer or witch spirit who or witch spirit who has powers which has powers which are used against the are used against the Mi’kmaqMi’kmaq

The Spirit WorldThe Spirit World

• Keskimsit – a person born with special power. gifts Keskimsit – a person born with special power. gifts or strengths.or strengths.

• Nikanijijitekewimu- a person that can predict Nikanijijitekewimu- a person that can predict futurefuture

• Wiklatmu’j – a spiritual being that lives in the Wiklatmu’j – a spiritual being that lives in the woods. Takes a human form of the man the size of woods. Takes a human form of the man the size of a small child.a small child.

• Mi’kmmuesu- a spiritual being who can take Mi’kmmuesu- a spiritual being who can take human form, and appear or disappear at will.Gives human form, and appear or disappear at will.Gives supernatural powers to people.supernatural powers to people.

• Skite’kmuj- a ghost or spirit of someone who died.Skite’kmuj- a ghost or spirit of someone who died.• Skitekmujewawti- Milky Way ; a path to the Spirit Skitekmujewawti- Milky Way ; a path to the Spirit

WorldWorld