This is dedicated to all the elders and ancestors who dared to dream the dream of keeping our culture and language strong while taking control of our education, to all of those who work to make that dream come true, and to the children who will have to work even harder to make it come true for their children.
Resources:
Mi'kmaq Online Talking Dictionary
The talking dictionary project is developing a 6000+ word Internet resource for the Mi'gmaq/Mi’kmaq language.Three speakers record each word. Multiple speakers allow one to hear differences and variations in how a word is pronounced. Each recorded word is used in an accompanying phrase spoken by a single speaker. This permits learners the opportunity to develop the difficult skill of distinguishing individual words when they are spoken in a phrase.
Information courtesy of Mi'kmaq Online (link).
Rand Micmac Dictionary
Rand, Silas Tertius. 1988. Dictionary of the language of the Micmac Indians: who reside in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Cape Breton and Newfoundland. Halifax, N.S.: Nova Scotia Printing Company.
Information courtesy of the Internet Archive (link).
Smith Francis Orthography (writing system)
If you want to read or write something in Mi'kmaq using the Smith Francis Orthography (writing system) the two links below will help you to do so:
Media:
Project Concept
The Jilaptoq Mi'kmaw Language Center involves the creation of digital, multimedia, and interactive Mi'kmaw educational support material. Initially the material is being designed for use with the Nova Scotia Department of Education’s Grade 7 Mi'kmaw Curriculum. However, the project website will ultimately be of use to all Mi'kmaw and Non-Mi'kmaw educators who are endeavoring to teach Mi'kmaw language and culture.
Jilaptoq is a Mi'kmaw verb which means "She/he is making or leaving footprints".
Jil- is a MI'KMAW ROOT meaning "mark".
ap- is a MI'KMAW MEDIAL meaning "look, see".
-t is a TI MI'KMAW VERB FINAL indicating that the verb has an animate subject and an inanimate object.
-oq is the INFLECTION indicating that the subject of the verb is third person singular present of a verb with an inanimate object (She/he ... it).
The project is unique in that it is a team effort involving many individuals and organizations within Mi’kmaki. Many of the individuals involved with the project are giving of their knowledge and time because of their love for the Mi’kmaw language. The project’s main goal is to build an interactive talking Mi’kmaw Dictionary, and to this end participants in Unama'ki (Cape Breton) have teamed up with the Mi’gmaq Online developers in Lustiguj. Our mandate also involves the development of various multimedia Mi’kmaw language-learning tools, which will be accessed on the web through this site. If you would like to be involved with the project e-mail us at jilaptoq@kinu.ca.
