Archives are a great place to develop and use your skills of investigation. Archives work to preserve materials in their original context. 'Authentic', 'one-of-a-kind', and 'original' are all words used to describe archival materials. This makes them reliable and valid sources of information, or evidence of the past.
The audio recordings of Mi’kmaw performers, storytellers and tradition bearers were created by folklorist Helen Creighton. Creighton’s work in collecting the songs, stories, and traditions of many Maritime communities over six decades made her one of Canada’s most celebrated folklorists.
Helen Creighton was born in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia in 1899. A product of the time in which she lived, she grew up having limited interactions with people from diverse communities. Her recordings are a testament to the relationships she was able to foster. The full body of work that she amassed preserves the folklife of many Maritime communities which might otherwise have been lost over time.
| Item | Reference |
|---|---|
|
Micmac Song performed by Chief William Paul at Shubenacadie Reserve, Hants County, Nova Scotia — 1944 |
Audio Reel: 5045 Recording number: 183 |
|
Story of the Arrival of Micmacs in Nova Scotia performed by Chief William Paul at Shubenacadie Reserve, Hants County, Nova Scotia — 1944 |
Audio Reel: 5045 Recording number: 184 |
|
[Talk in Micmac] performed by Chief William Paul at Shubenacadie Reserve, Hants County, Nova Scotia — 1944 |
Audio Reel: 5046 Recording number: 185 |
|
[Micmac lullaby] performed by Chief William Paul at Shubenacadie Reserve, Hants County, Nova Scotia — 1944 |
Audio Reel: 5046 Recording number: 186 |
|
[Micmac song] performed by Chief William Paul at Shubenacadie Reserve, Hants County, Nova Scotia — 1944 |
Audio Reel: 5046 Recording number: 187 |
|
[Talk on Micman customs] performed by Chief William Paul at Shubenacadie Reserve, Hants County, Nova Scotia — 1944 |
Audio Reel: 5046 Recording number: 188 |
|
[Talk on birth of child and customs] performed by Chief William Paul at Shubenacadie Reserve, Hants County, Nova Scotia — 1944 |
Audio Reel: 5046 Recording number: 189 |
|
[Talk on hunting and fishing] performed by Chief William Paul at Shubenacadie Reserve, Hants County, Nova Scotia — 1944 |
Audio Reel: 5046 Recording number: 190 |
|
[Micmac burial] performed by Chief William Paul at Shubenacadie Reserve, Hants County, Nova Scotia — 1944 |
Audio Reel: 5046 Recording number: 191 |
|
War Dance performed by Chief William Paul and John Knockwood, Martin Sack at Shubenacadie Reserve, Hants County, Nova Scotia — 1944 |
Audio Reel: 5046 Recording number: 192 |
|
Micmac Indian War Song performed by Chief William Paul at Shubenacadie Reserve, Hants County, Nova Scotia — 1944 |
Audio Reel: 5046 Recording number: 193 |
|
[Glooscap story of Micmac demi-god] performed by Chief William Paul at Shubenacadie Reserve, Hants County, Nova Scotia — 1944 |
Audio Reel: 5046 Recording number: 194 |
|
Glooscap's Advice performed by Chief William Paul at Shubenacadie Reserve, Hants County, Nova Scotia — 1944 |
Audio Reel: 5048 Recording number: 195 |
|
[Micmac song] performed by Frank Bernard at Nyanza, Victoria County, Nova Scotia — 1944 |
Audio Reel: 5048 Recording number: 196 |
|
[Micmac song] performed by Frank Bernard at Nyanza, Victoria County, Nova Scotia — 1944 |
Audio Reel: 5048 Recording number: 197 |
|
[Micmac song] performed by Frank Bernard at Nyanza, Victoria County, Nova Scotia — 1944 |
Audio Reel: 5048 Recording number: 198 |
|
[Micmac song] performed by Frank Bernard at Nyanza, Victoria County, Nova Scotia — 1944 |
Audio Reel: 5048 Recording number: 199 |
|
Story of Glooscap performed by Rev. McPherson at Port Hood, Inverness County, Nova Scotia — 1944 |
Audio Reel: 5048 Recording number: 200 |
|
[Talk on Micmac language] performed by Rev. McPherson at Port Hood, Inverness County, Nova Scotia — 1944 |
Audio Reel: 5048 Recording number: 201 |
|
Narrative of his life, including moose calls told in English and Mi'kmaq performed by Chief William Paul at Shubenacadie, Hants County, Nova Scotia — 30 April 1944 |
Audio Reel: 5073 Recording number: 460 |
|
Narrative on Mi'kmaq Burials performed by Chief William Paul at Shubenacadie, Hants County, Nova Scotia — 30 April 1944 |
Audio Reel: 5074 Recording number: 461 |
|
Micmac War Dance performed by Chief William Paul at Shubenacadie, Hants County, Nova Scotia — 30 April 1944 |
Audio Reel: 5076 Recording number: 480 |
|
Micmac War Song performed by Chief William Paul at Shubenacadie, Hants County, Nova Scotia — 30 April 1944 |
Audio Reel: 5076 Recording number: 481 |
|
Promised Land performed by Chief William Paul at Shubenacadie, Hants County, Nova Scotia — 30 April 1944 |
Audio Reel: 5076 Recording number: 482 |
|
Mi'kmaq Crib performed by William Paul at Dartmouth, Halifax County, Nova Scotia — 4 April 1944 |
Audio Reel: 5095 Recording number: 668 |
Explore Mi'kmaq songs and stories in Helen Creighton Folklife
While exploring the recordings, you should remain aware that the resource preserves, titles, catagories and language supplied by Helen Creighton, as the creator of the records, as is common in archival practice. The recordings Creighton made are very much 'of their time' and have not been edited. Contemporary users may find some of the language outdated or problematic.
Nova Scotia Archives — https://archives.novascotia.ca/teaching-learning/mikmaq/creighton/audio/
Crown copyright © 2024, Province of Nova Scotia.