The Mi'qmak

The first inhabitants of Minudie were the Mi’kmaq, who called themselves L’nu’k, meaning “the people”.  The term Mi’kmaq comes from their word nikmak which means “my kin-friends”. The Mi’kmaq were hunters of the sea as well as the land.

The wide-bottomed Mi’kmaq canoe was raised at both ends and the sides curved upwards in the middle, this shape allowed them to canoe far out to sea, as well as in shallow streams and rapids. Canoes were 3 meters to 8 meters long and made of birchbark over a light wooden frame.  A small canoe could carry a load of several hundred pounds, but was still light enough for one person to carry. 

The Mi’kmaq spent the majority of the year along the coast and fish of all kinds; including salmon , sturgeon, lobster, seals, shellfish and even porpoises and whales, was the bulk of their diet. They hunted moose, caribou, beaver and porcupine and smaller animals such as squirrels.  Berries, roots, and edible plants were gathered in the summer and meat and fish were dried and smoked to preserve them.

 The Mi’kmaq dwellings, or “wikuom”, which we know as wigwam, were assembled by the women and could be built in a day. The basic structure was five spruce poles lashed together at the top with split spruce root and spread out at the bottom. A hoop of moosewood was tied under the poles, just down from the top to brace them.  Shorter poles tied to the hoop all around provided the supports for the birchbark cover, and they laid birhchbark sheets over the poles like shingles.  The top was left open to allow smoke to escape, but a bark collar was used to cover the top in bad weather. The floor would have been lined with fir twigs, woven mats and animal furs with a large hide used as a door cover. The wigwams were painted with figures of animals and birds. Birchbark made an excellent covering because it was waterproof and portable, as the family would take the birchbark sheets with them when they moved.

Clothing was made from the skins of mammals, birds and fish, which would have been tanned. A long process of stretching and working the skins produced beautiful fur and leather, and bone awls were used to make holes in the leather for sewing. Moccasins were made from moose or seal skin.  In the Mi’kmaq community the men were responsible for; hunting, fishing, and gathering food, making weapons, canoes, snowshoes and sleds (both native inventions) as well as tools ,such as spears, axes, knives and hammers. The women would prepare and preserve the food, make dishes, pots and birchbark containers (used for storing berries, fish and for boiling water), clothing, care for the children and assemble the wigwam.