The Mi'kmaqs

Concluding the Northeastern section of Native Nations, Bonvillain writes about the Mi'kmaqs in Chapter 5. The Mi'kmaqs are an Algonkian speaking people who reside in what is now eastern Canada, up near the Gulf of St. Lawrence by Nova Scotia. The Tuft's Cove settlement is pictured to the right, which is in Nova Scotia. Mi'kmaqs are the northern most Algonkian speakers. As I began reading this chapter, I immediately thought of the environment and how it drives culture - along the lines of Julian Steward's theory of cultural ecology. Since Mi'kmaqs live in a colder environment with limited resources, this was reflected in their choice of band congregation, which was more territorial than social. As would be expected, migration and settlement patterns revolved around food source. The Mi'kmaq way of life consists primarily of foraging, but also of hunting. I think moose are the most interesting animal they hunt - it made me think how they are sort of the like wooly mammoth of our day, up there in the harsh, cold climate. During these moose expeditions, Mi'kmaqs hunted in parties, but even more interesting, is that men primarily hunted alone. It's not clear as to why, but perhaps territorial issues and masculine achievement are safe inferences. Mi'kmaqs were not farmers (until they were forced to be by Europeans) and in fact, they only cultivated tobacco, which was used in ritual and to stave off hunger for all members of the community.

I enjoyed reading about Mi'kmaq religious beliefs and practices, and one thing that I've always been interested in were shapeshifters, or skinwalkers. I'm only familiar with this in regard to the Navajo and Hopi, however. Bonvillain does not directly referenced this here, but she does refer to a powerful people who practice witchcraft called the "buoin". Bonvillain does, however, state than a further manifestation of their power is to change from one form into another, so to me this implies shapeshifting.

I've always been fascinated by birthing rituals, and last year in my anthropological theory class, we watched the documentary The Business of Being Born. The documentary reveals the nature of midwifery and how the medical industry and hospitals essentially stole this intimate experience away from women. Bonvillain's description of birthing reminded me of this parallel. Mi'kwaqs kneeled on the ground or squatted and held onto something while giving birth, which makes sense as to not fight the force of gravity by lying down on a hospital bed. The mother would be surrounded by a few women who would console her and make her feel comfortable, as well as burn tobacco to ease pain and quicken birth. Babies were given oil from a bear or seal to swallow after being washed in the river and then wrapped in animal fur - sounds a lot better than dangling you from your feet, slapping your ass to make you breathe, and squirting silver nitrate into your eyes.