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 |
|---|---|
|
Story of Flood and Arrival of White Man performed by Peter Michaels at Shubenacadie Reserve, Hants County, Nova Scotia — July 1956 |
Audio Reel: 5841 Recording number: 3166 |
|
Micmac Lullaby performed by Peter Michaels at Shubenacadie Reserve, Hants County, Nova Scotia — July 1956 |
Audio Reel: 5841 Recording number: 3167 |
|
[CBC Interviews with Mi'Kmaq informants] performed by Louis Paul — Jan. 1959 |
Audio Reel: 5899 Recording number: 3591 |
|
Unidentified song sung in Micmac performed by Peter Lepage at Shubenacadie Reserve, Hants County, Nova Scotia — 1958 |
Audio Reel: 5955 Recording number: 3653 |
|
[G Esaltim Genie] performed by Mrs. Joe Knockwood at Shubenacadie Reserve, Hants County, Nova Scotia — 1958 |
Audio Reel: 5955 Recording number: 3654 |
|
[Lullabye] sung in Micmac performed by Mrs. Joe Knockwood at Shubenacadie Reserve, Hants County, Nova Scotia — 1958 |
Audio Reel: 5955 Recording number: 3655 |
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 Contemporary users may find some of the language outdated or problematic.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 © 2025, Province of Nova Scotia.