More Mi'kmaw History

JUNE 18, 2024
The KCA History Committee is developing closer ties with the Fort Point Museum and together hosted Decolonizing the LaHave River: A Settler's Journey and Responsibility presented by Dr. Margaret Knickle, professor at Mount St. Vincent University and Fort Point Museum Board of Directors member. The event payed tribute Mi'kmaw Elder Ellen Hunt who passed away in January 2024.

It was acknowledged that for more than 11,000 years the ancestors of the Mi’kmaq have lived in Mi’kma’ki. The major rivers such as the LaHave were used like our 100 series highways. Any place that has access to food, water and a sandy beach will have been used by the Mi’kmaw for some or part of the year. Many place names (like Shubenacadie and Chebucto) have been anglicised; you can find the original place names here.

Dr. Knickle’s remarks also focused on her efforts to decolonize the history of the LaHave and present a more accurate account of the history and customs of the Mi’kmaw, in collaboration with members of that community; as it is their story to tell.  She and Ellen were especially engaged in identifying Mi’kmaw burial sites, ensuring that they were accorded the recognition and protection under provincial legislation including the Cemeteries and Monuments Protection Act. 

The collaboration undertaken by Dr. Knickle and Ellen Hunt will be published in their upcoming book My Ancestors Live Here.