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
Mary an Sar performed by Marguerite Letson at Port Medway, Queens County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: Mary an Sar — 13 July 1949	Audio Reel: 5148 Recording number: 1198
Me Neleme na performed by Marguerite Letson at Port Medway, Queens County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: Me neleme na — 13 July 1949	Audio Reel: 5148 Recording number: 1199
Dance Music performed by Solomon Francis at Eel Ground, New Brunswick — August 1953	Audio Reel: 5659 Recording number: 2392
Dance Song performed by Solomon Francis at Eel Ground, New Brunswick — August 1953	Audio Reel: 5659 Recording number: 2393
(song sung at Wake) (Micmac) performed by Mrs. Denny at Eel Ground, New Brunswick — August 1953	Audio Reel: 5659 Recording number: 2394
(Micmac lullabye) performed by Mrs. Denny at Eel Ground, New Brunswick — August 1953	Audio Reel: 5659 Recording number: 2395
Hymn: Hail Mary (Latin and Micmac) performed by Chief Dan Paul at Eel Ground, New Brunswick — August 1953	Audio Reel: 5659 Recording number: 2398
Mi'kmaq hymns performed by Chief Dan Paul at Eel Ground, New Brunswick — August 1953	Audio Reel: 5659 Recording number: 2399
Fallen Leaf (Micmac) performed by Alfred Patlas at Eel Ground, New Brunswick — August 1953	Audio Reel: 5659 Recording number: 2400
Talk on mixed marriages performed by Chief Dan Paul at Eel Ground, New Brunswick — August 1953	Audio Reel: 5659 Recording number: 2402
Micmac Love Song performed by Mrs. Joe Knockwood at Kennetcook, Hants County, Nova Scotia — 1955	Audio Reel: 5811 Recording number: 3100
O Notre Dame performed by West Pubnico High School Girls Choir at West Pubnico, Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia — 1955	Audio Reel: 5836 Recording number: 3101
Lullaby performed by Mrs. Joe Knockwood at Kennetcook, Hants County, Nova Scotia — 1955	Audio Reel: 5811 Recording number: 3101
Unidentified Micmac song at Kennetcook, Hants County, Nova Scotia — 1955	Audio Reel: 5811 Recording number: 3102
Unidentified Micmac song at Kennetcook, Hants County, Nova Scotia — 1955	Audio Reel: 5811 Recording number: 3103
[Mary's Song] at Kennetcook, Hants County, Nova Scotia — 1955	Audio Reel: 5811 Recording number: 3105
Unidentified Maliseet song performed by Philip Sapier at Kennetcook, Hants County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: No Place Like Home — 1955	Audio Reel: 5811 Recording number: 3106
Unidentified Micmac song performed by Philip Sapier at Kennetcook, Hants County, Nova Scotia — 1955	Audio Reel: 5811 Recording number: 3108
Unidentified Micmac hymn performed by Philip Sapier at Kennetcook, Hants County, Nova Scotia — 1955	Audio Reel: 5811 Recording number: 3109
[National] Anthem sung in Micmac at Kennetcook, Hants County, Nova Scotia — 1955	Audio Reel: 5811 Recording number: 3110
Crow Song, The at Kennetcook, Hants County, Nova Scotia — 1955	Audio Reel: 5811 Recording number: 3111
Adeste Fideles sung in Micmac at Kennetcook, Hants County, Nova Scotia — 1955	Audio Reel: 5811 Recording number: 3112
[National Anthem] sung in Micmac at Kennetcook, Hants County, Nova Scotia — 1955	Audio Reel: 5811 Recording number: 3113
Traditional Micmac Tribal Dance performed by Peter Michaels at Shubenacadie Reserve, Hants County, Nova Scotia — July 1956	Audio Reel: 5840 Recording number: 3163
Traditional Micmac Dance Song performed by Martin Sack at Shubenacadie Reserve, Hants County, Nova Scotia — July 1956	Audio Reel: 5840 Recording number: 3164

page 3 of 4

1 2 3 4

Explore Mi'kmaq songs and stories in Helen Creighton Folklife

return to Mi'kmaw Teaching and Learning Resources

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