Where do the Micmacs live?
The Micmacs or Mi’kmaqs are original natives of the Nova Scotia/New Brunswick region.
How do Micmac Indian children live, and what did they do in the past?
They do the same things all children do--play with each other, go to school and help around the house. Many Mi'kmaq children like to go hunting and fishing with their fathers. In the past, Native kids had more chores and less time to play, just like other children of the time. But they did have dolls and toys to play with.
What was Micmac transportation like in the days before cars? Did they paddle canoes?
Yes--the Micmac Indian tribe was well-known for their birchbark canoes. Here's a picture of a Mi'kmaq canoe. Canoeing is still popular within the Mi'kmaq nation. Over land, the Micmac tribe used dogs as pack animals. (There were no horses in North America until colonists brought them over from Europe.) Micmac people used snowshoes and sleds to help them travel in the winter. The English word "toboggan" is actually borrowed from the Micmac word for "sled." Today, of course, Micmac people also use cars... and non-native people also use canoes.
What were Micmac homes like?
The Micmacs didn't live in tepees. They lived in small villages of wigwams, which are houses made of wood and birchbark. One Micmac family lived in each wigwam. Here are some pictures of wigwams and how they're built. Today, Natives only build a wigwam for fun or to connect with their heritage, not for shelter. Most Micmacs live in modern houses and apartment buildings, just like you. |
