Mi'kmaq Culture (Ages 9-11)
This playlist introduces students to the culture and traditional way of life of the Mi’kmaq. More generally, students will discover another way of approaching the world and will broaden their knowledge of Indigenous Peoples. Pour visionner cette sélection en français, cliquez ici. Films in This Playlist Include Waseteg Maq and the Spirit of the Woods Vistas: Little Thunder Summer Legend
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This playlist introduces students to the culture and traditional way of life of the Mi’kmaq. More generally, students will discover another way of approaching the world and will broaden their knowledge of Indigenous Peoples.
Pour visionner cette sélection en français, cliquez ici.
Films in This Playlist Include
Waseteg
Maq and the Spirit of the Woods
Vistas: Little Thunder
Summer Legend
Playlist
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WasetegPhyllis Grant 2010 6 minWaseteg is the story of a young Mi'kmaq girl whose name means “the light from the dawn.” Sadly, her mother dies while giving birth and, though her father works very hard to provide for his family, Waseteg is surrounded by the bitterness and loneliness felt by her sisters.
As a young girl, Waseteg looks for solace in nature, and dreams of the stories she’s heard in the village – including one about Walqwan, the mysterious boy living across the river. Eventually, with the gentle care of the boy's grandmother, Waseteg succeeds in finding Walqwan, discovering the Spirit Path, and restoring love to her family.
A short story about dreams, courage, identity, creation and embracing our Elders, Waseteg showcases Phyllis Grant's signature style of bold lines, bright colours and simple movements. The film is beautifully narrated by legendary filmmaker Alanis Obomsawin.
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Maq and the Spirit of the WoodsPhyllis Grant 2006 8 min
This animated short tells the story of Maq, a Mi'kmaq boy who realizes his potential with the help of inconspicuous mentors. When an elder in the community offers him a small piece of pipestone, Maq carves a little person out of it. Proud of his work, the boy wants to impress his grandfather and journeys through the woods to find him. Along the path Maq meets a curious traveller named Mi'gmwesu. Together they share stories, medicine, laughter, and song. Maq begins to care less about making a good impression and more about sharing the knowledge and spirit he's found through his creation. Part of the Talespinners collection, which uses vibrant animation to bring popular children's stories from a wide range of cultural communities to the screen.
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Little ThunderNance Ackerman & Alan Syliboy 2009 2 min
This animated short, inspired by the Mi'kmaq legend "The Stone Canoe" explores Indigenous humour. We follow Little Thunder as he reluctantly leaves his family and sets out on a cross-country canoe trip to become a man.
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Summer LegendFrançoise Hartmann 1986 8 min
This short animation tells the tale of the great spirit Glooscap and how he battled with the giant Winter in order to bring Summer to the North and the Mi'kmaq people. Silas T. Rand, a Canadian Baptist clergyman and ethnographer, and Charles Leland, an American humorist and folklorist, first recorded the legend of Glooscap at the end of the 19th century. Since then, the legend has been retold many times, but never more beautifully than in this colourful animated interpretation.
