Mi'kmaw Teaching and Learning Resources

Sound Recordings

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
Mi'kmaq Death and Burials performed by William Paul at Dartmouth, Halifax County, Nova Scotia — 4 April 1944	Audio Reel: 5095 Recording number: 670
Ceremony Following Birth performed by William Paul at Dartmouth, Halifax County, Nova Scotia — 4 April 1944	Audio Reel: 5095 Recording number: 671
National Anthem in Mi'kmaq performed by John Knockwood at Dartmouth, Halifax County, Nova Scotia — 22 April 1944	Audio Reel: 5096 Recording number: 673
Mass for the Dead performed by John Knockwood at Dartmouth, Halifax County, Nova Scotia — 22 April 1944	Audio Reel: 5096 Recording number: 674
Vespers in Mi'kmaq performed by John Knockwood at Dartmouth, Halifax County, Nova Scotia — 22 April 1944	Audio Reel: 5096 Recording number: 675
Lamb of God in Mi'kmaq performed by John Knockwood at Dartmouth, Halifax County, Nova Scotia — 22 April 1944	Audio Reel: 5096 Recording number: 676
St. Anne's prayer in Mi'kmaq performed by John Knockwood at Dartmouth, Halifax County, Nova Scotia — 22 April 1944	Audio Reel: 5096 Recording number: 677
Indian Ceremonial Song performed by William Paul at Shubenacadie, Hants County, Nova Scotia — 30 April 1944	Audio Reel: 5096 Recording number: 679
Glooscap Predictions performed by William Paul at Shubenacadie, Hants County, Nova Scotia — 30 April 1944	Audio Reel: 5096 Recording number: 680
Arrival of Mi'kmaq in Nova Scotia performed by William Paul at Shubenacadie, Hants County, Nova Scotia — 30 April 1944	Audio Reel: 5097 Recording number: 694
Glooscap performed by Rev. McPherson at Port Hood, Inverness County, Nova Scotia — 27 May 1944	Audio Reel: 5102 Recording number: 742
Talk on Mi'kmaq Language performed by Rev. McPherson at Port Hood, Inverness County, Nova Scotia — 27 May 1944	Audio Reel: 5102 Recording number: 744
The coming of Scotch people performed by Chief Sillboy at Nyanza, Victoria County, Nova Scotia — 10 June 1944	Audio Reel: 5108 Recording number: 801
(Unknown Mi'kmaq song) performed by Frank Bernard at Nyanza, Victoria County, Nova Scotia — 10 June 1944	Audio Reel: 5108 Recording number: 802
(Unknown Mi'kmaq song) performed by Frank Bernard at Nyanza, Victoria County, Nova Scotia — 10 June 1944	Audio Reel: 5108 Recording number: 803
(Unknown Mi'kmaq song) performed by Frank Bernard at Nyanza, Victoria County, Nova Scotia — 10 June 1944	Audio Reel: 5108 Recording number: 804
(Unknown Mi'kmaq song) performed by Frank Bernard at Nyanza, Victoria County, Nova Scotia — 10 June 1944	Audio Reel: 5108 Recording number: 805
(Making Canoes) performed by Chief William Paul at Shubenacadie, Hants County, Nova Scotia — 30 April 1944	Audio Reel: 5110 Recording number: 832
(Micmac lullaby) performed by Chief William Paul at Shubenacadie, Hants County, Nova Scotia — 30 April 1944	Audio Reel: 5110 Recording number: 833
(Micmac Wedding Song) performed by Chief William Paul at Shubenacadie, Hants County, Nova Scotia — 30 April 1944	Audio Reel: 5110 Recording number: 834
(Micmac war dance) performed by Chief William Paul — 1944	Audio Reel: 5114 Recording number: 866
(Micmac war song) performed by Chief William Paul — 1944	Audio Reel: 5114 Recording number: 867
Promised Land performed by Chief William Paul — 1944	Audio Reel: 5114 Recording number: 868
(Micmac song) performed by Frank Bernard — 1944	Audio Reel: 5114 Recording number: 872
(Micmac song) performed by Frank Bernard — 1944	Audio Reel: 5114 Recording number: 874

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Explore Mi'kmaq songs and stories in Helen Creighton Folklife

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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

Mi'kmaw Teaching and Learning Resources

Sound Recordings