Weli Nuelewi Aqq Pusu'l Puna'ne

Bonne et Heureuse Année

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

THE SPIRIT WORLD

Skitekmujewawt:--Path to the spirit world

kwe' Mi'kmaw tio'ti wleyuti o o tsitqamoo.....alasutmay saqiwe'k lnu'k..

ANCIENT SYMBOLS

Taken from Mi'kmaq Hieroglyphic symbols from our ancient Mi'kmaw people:

Wela'liaq - Thank you - (Teachers), (kekina'muet)

(kekina l'un'k iaqjilo masipaik elasamulek skwayike)-

Teacher of the Mi'kmaw we Honour You,You hold a Place of Honor Forever.

Your Spirit Brother, Pikto'l Sa'ke'j Miu's.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY !

kiskik kiskuk (Beautiful day today)

A CONVERSATION CLASS

Six Conversation Class:

Wula na e’piteji’j Woo-law nuh eh-be-dayjeej

This is a little girl. Wula na e’pit Woo-law nuh eh-beet

This is a woman. Wula na ji’nm Woo-law nuh jee-num

This is a man. Wula na lpa’tuj Woo-law nuh ul-bah-dooj

This is a boy. E’pit pemkopit kutputiktuk. Eh-beet bem-go-beet gootbooty-ick-dook

The woman is sitting on a chair. Nemi’k ji’nm tuop~tiktuk Nem-me-k jee-num doo do-wobe-uh-dick-dook

I see a man at the window. Lpa’tuj mila’sit Ull-bah-dooj me-law-seet

The boy is playing. P~temu ji’nm. Buh-day-moo jee-num

Give tea to the man Nkwe’jij kesatk amalkaj Un-gway-jij guess-ah-tk ah-mall gutch

My sister likes to dance Tami elien? Dummy elly-en?

Where are you going? Kinship e’pijik Eh-bee-jeek women e’pitejijk Eh-be-day-jeej-k

girls nkwe’jij Un-gway-jeej

my younger sister nsim Un-seem

my niece ntus Un-duce

my daughter epite’s Eh-be-days

young woman n~mis Nuh-mees

my older sister nuji’j Noo-jeej

my grandaughter nkij Un-gitch

my mother nukumij New goo-midge

my grandmother (traditional) nkijinen Un-gitch-ee-nen

my grandmother (contemporary) nsukwis Un-sue-gweese my aunt nte’pitem Un-day-beet-em

my wife nklnikn* Un-gull-nee-gun

my godchild nkekkunit* Un-geck-oo-neet

my godparent n~maqtum* Nuh-muq-dum

my sister-in-law (same sex) nilmus* Neel-moos

my sister in law (opposite sex) nukumij* Noo-goom-itch

my mother in law no’kmaw* No-gum-ow

my cousin nte’pite’sm Un-day-be-daysum

my girlfriend nitape’skw Nee-da-beskw

my female friend ji’nmuk jee-na-mook

men lpa’tujk Ull-baw-doo-chk

boys nutj Nood-j

my father niskamij Nis-ga-mitch

My father in law niskamij nukmij Nis-ga-mitch Nook-mij

my grandfather (contemporary) my grandmother nklamuksis un-gla-mook-sis

my uncle nji’nmum un-jee-na-moom

my husband nsis un-sis

my older brother njiknum un-jee-ga-num

my younger brother nkwis Un-kwiss

my son nuluks* new-looks

my nephew lpa’tus ull-baw-doose

a young man nitap nee-dup

my male friend niskamij* niss-ga-midge

my father in law nltpa’tem un-dl-baw-dem

my boyfriend

• Note: All words marked can refer to male or female. They are not gender specific.

IT'S A RAINY DAY

kikpesaq

\ph gik·pe·sahk

\ps vii

\ge rain

\de It is raining

COMMAND VERBS

Command Verbs:

Piskwa' (Bees-gwaah) - Come In

Tu'e (Doo-ay) - Get out

Juku'e (Jew-gooo-ay) - Come Here

Jikla'si (Jig'laah-see) - Go away

Mijisi (Me-jee-see) - Eat

Pa'si (Baah-see) - Sit down

Qama'si (ħa-maah-see) - Stand up

Jena'si (Jay-naah-see) - Calm down

Minaqa'si (Me-nah-ħaah-see) - Hurry up

Pawa'si (Bao*-aah-see) - Slow Down

Naqa'si (Na-ħaa-see) - Stop

Ajimpa (Ah-jeem-bah) - Go to bed

Minja'si (Meen-jaah-see) - Wake up

/Get Up Mukk

(Muck) - Don't

Modifiers: Ke (Gay) - PleaseAq (Aħ) - AndKisna (Geese-nah) - OrNike' (Nee-gaay) - NowAnsma-Nike' (Ahn-smah-Nee-gaay) - Right Now

A BEAUTIFUL DAY

Weli kiskik kiskuk---(Beautiful day today)

ALL ABOUT EELS

Some spelling and eel fishing discussion be awesome!!!

Helen Sylliboy ajela’lsi, (to provide for one’s self)

alkuma’I, (spearing, to hunt something in the water.)

alsusit, etli-saqmawi ( a moderator)

alsutm, alsumk, koqwaja’tu (to moderate)

amalukwatm, amalukwey, mili-weketm, mili ntawa’qatekey,

anko’tm, anko’tkey, paskawo’tm, pekaji anko’tm, pekaji ankweyaq, pegejodum, kwesodum. (to preserve)

ankodumumk`, westa`mk, oosutogun, oostowoote,

astua’tekey, astua’tu, astua’likik, amali petatekey,

eleke’wit. (king eel.)

elnekat. (fresh water eel.)

elui’tmasi ( I testify)

elui’tmasuti (testimony)

enkatumkewey (allocation)

eskwie’ (to survive)

ilsutekey, alsusi, ilsutm, ilsumk (oversee)

istui, istua’ltimk, (diversity) jitunm, kelipuku’nik, kelnulk, jitunik, mimaju’nuk, esimk. (to sustain)

kaqi isamalukwatum (to diversify)

kasedagawolk , (to be cleaning off the slime off the eel)

kata’qi, kata’qi’l (eel skin)

kate’kemk. ( to fish for eels )

katew. (eel )

kela’q, nutankowey, a’jela’tu, atkna’q, a’jela’tekey, (to provide)

mesqusuikewey ( to cook with the skin and all)

mijipjewei, mawikpoqtm, wsuto’qn, mimajui’kn. (sustenance)

mimaju’nit (to preserve his life)

mu saqtmu wtplute’kn , wtplute’kn mu sespite’tmu (lawless)

na’tuei. ( to fish for eels in the mud during winter )

napeme’kw, nape’kw (the milter , the male fish)

nejinjik, wa’wm (a spawn)

nikoql. ( winter eel spear )

nme’jue’kati (to place a fish where fish abound)

nuji nsitawi’wet, nuji anko’tekey. (preserver)

nuji nsutuapukuey, nuji nsutu’nm (monitor)

nuji panimi’jko’tekey, nuji tukmajo’tekey, nuji paqami’jko’tekey (investigator)

nujo’tekewuti (keepership)

nujo’tekey, nujo’tm (to be a keeper)

pe’wulk , (to scour eels in ashes)

pekitnma’timk, peketunawetu’nmkewey (an offering)

pipani’jkatmumk, pipanuijkatmukewey, tetoqi majukwatumk`, tedokoomajodumugawa, tukumajo’tekeimk, pa’qi majukatmumk, paqamajo’tmukewey (investigation)

pipanui’jkatm, tetoqi majo’tm, tukumajo’tm, tukumajo’tekey, pakmajo’tm, pakmajo’tekey ( to investigate)

pqwasaw. (large silver eel.)

pqwi’kn. ( hole cut in ice to spear eels )

qata’qi. (eel skin.)

saqsikwey. ( to torch for eels)

saqtumukewey, asite’tmik (compliance)

sekepo’qn ( a hole dug in the sand to put eels so that the slime will be removed by the sand)

sikwa’lut (to spawn)

skmoqn , eskmoqn. ( eel slime)

skwe’mekw (the spawner , the female fish)

smkwati. (eel spear pole.

) sqwayiw (a limit)

telkitasik, asite'tasik (lawful)

asie;imik, saqtaq ( to comply)

waisisk, wilu’l, (provider)

welmitu, koqwaja’tekey, (moderate)

wetqulk ( to limit)

wetquluksuti, wetquluksimk (limitation)

wsitawo’kn, paskawo’tmumk, kweso’tmumk. (preservation)

wtplute’kn, teplute’kemkewey (law)

THE EYE IN THE SKY

LANGUAGE CAMP

This is a photo of the Flat Bay Language Camp 2015.

LANGUAGE OF THE PEOPLE

Ln'u'k (The people),Mi'kmaq

Language is part of the essence of a race of a people. It is not only how the race communicates with each other,  but it is the means by which a People understands and defines Mother Earth and the way of life.

It is very psychologically damaging for a People to lose their language....they lose a part of who they are. It splinters and fractures the people.

The Mi'kmaq People NEEDS to speak their language again, so that we  can define and understand the world with our  words, our tongue, not with that belonging to someone else!

By becoming fluent in our  own language the People will once again become whole.

Thus any language workshop, besides being educational and interesting, provided a journey toward healing. It moved the People away from being a victim....because anyone who has had their language ripped away from them has indeed been victimized.

But by embracing the Mi'kmaq language we are moving toward becoming a people of survivors....one that is a very distinct society.

We as Mi'kmaq people are  humble and nomadic humans that have survived for thousands of years and have a distinct openness that can not be found or defined in any way or form in another language.

We , as a people,  have to grasp the  future and remember  who and what and where we came from .

This is so important to our core values and the being one as a Nation that will come together and share our own belief system and must remain  ,  for we hold this in trust for the next seven generations that follow the dignity of the first people of this land,,,,

Pikto'l Sa'ke'j Muise…

HONORARY CERTIFICATE

The Rediscovery of the Mi'kmaw Language in K'taqmuk-Newfoundland:

By Delina Petit Pas/Tami Park-Tighe/Odelle Pike// Victor Muise , The Four Founders of a new beginning..

Saturday June 6th, 2015:

Bay St. George Mi'kmaw Language Incentive Program:

Honorary Certificate, 5 day camp recognition.

Pikto'l Sa'ke'j Miu's./ Victor James Muise

THE REDISCOVERY OF OUR LANGUAGE

The Rediscovery of the Mi'kmaw Language in K'taqmuk-Newfoundland:

By Delina Petit Pas/Tami Park-Tighe/Odelle Pike/Victor Muise ,

Saturday Jun,6th,2015

Bay St. George Mi'kmaw Language Incentive Program.

Honorary Certificate 5 day camp recognition

Pikto'l Sa'ke'j Miu's./ Victor James Muise

THE YEAR DIVIDED

SEASONS AND CALENDAR: Pikto'l Sa'ke'j Miu's..VJM..

siwkw (Spring) - when the leaves began to sprout, the wild geese appeared, the fawns of moose reached a certain size within the mother, and seals bore their young.

nipk (Summer) - when the salmon spawned and the wild geese molted.

toqa’q (Autumn) - when the birds migrated.

kesik (Winter) - when the weather became very cold, the snow fell and the bears began to hibernate.

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MI'KMAQ LUNAR CALENDAR

Seasons English- Mi’kmaw Translation

Toqa’q October... Wikewiku’s Animal-fattening moon

Kesik November... Keptekewiku’s River-freezing moon

December... Kjiku’s The great month

January... Punamujuiku’s Frost fish moon (tom cod)

February... Apiknajit The snow blinder

March.. Siwkewiku’s Spawning moon

Siwkw April... Penatemuiku’s Egg laying moon

Nipk May... Etqoljewiku’s Frog-croaking moon

June... Nipniku’s Summer moon

July... Peskewiku’s Feather-shedding moon

August... Kisikwekewiku’s Fruit and berry-ripening moon

September ...Wikumkewiku’s Moose-calling moon

OUR SACRED LANGUAGE

Please know that I will add to this weekly , or as time allows.
BASIC MI'KMAQ
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KWE---(KOO WEIGH)
HELLO
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METALWULEIN?(MAY-DULL-WOO-LAY-IN?
HOW ARE YOU?
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WELIKISK~K(WELLY-GISS-KUK)
NICE DAY
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TAMI WEJIEN?(DUMMY-WEDGIE-EN?)
WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?
----------------------------------------------
WELTA'SUWALUL(WELL-DAW-SOO-WALL-OOL)
I AM HAPPY TO SEE YOU
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KEWISINN?(GEWWY-SINN?)
ARE YOU HUNGRY?
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WANTAQPA'SI(WON-TAWQ-BOSSY)
SETTLE DOWN
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Weli-kiskik----Good Day.
------------------------------------------------
Weli eksitpu'k- Good Morning ------------------------------------------------
Weli,kisnmi'k. . We're having a nice day
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Weli eksitpu'k----Good Morning
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Mejikiptinan
Mejike'kl kpitnn/ your hands are dirty
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Kasiptina'si Kesispa'te'n kpitnn/ wash your hands
------------------------------------------------
Waqmiptinan Waqme'kl kpitnn
your hands are clean
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Kisikuop na metowo'qsink-
The old man is snoring
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juku'etes(k) = I will come this way
juku'etes = you will come this way
juku'etew = she will come this way
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Welikiskik = It's a nice day
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pi'tawa'sijik // they go up river (2 people)
pi'tawita'jik // they go up the river (3 people)
weliaq...all right !!
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Weli kisk~k - It is nice out. (Sounds like welly gis gook)
sepai,-- early this morning
K'eluktij knaqwekm !--Have a great day
----------------------------------------------------
alasutmay......I pray-
alasutman.............you pray-
alasutmat........he prays-
alasutmalitl....his (daughter, son) prays...-
---------------------------------------------------- Elders connect us to... Wisdom, Humor, Love and Life.
Kisiku'k iknmuksi'k... Nsituo'qn, Kiso'ltimkewey, Kesaltultimkewey aq Mimajuaqn.
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How is the soil?.......Talamuk' katu maqamikew?
The soil is dry.…..Maqamikew kispataqntek.
It needs water.…..Nuta'q samqwana'tasin.
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Alasutmaqniktuk.....place of prayer
Ah-la-sue-dim-uck-Hun-ick-dook.... Ocean Breeze
apaqtuk wettik Ab-ahq-dook wet.....dig
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WELIKISK~K(WELLY-GISS-KUK.......nice day
------------------------------------------------------
KWE---(GWAY)...hello
METALWULEIN?(MAY-DULL-WOO-LAY-IN)?....How are you?
WELIKISK~K(WELLY-GISS-KUK)....nice day
TAMI WEJIEN(DUMMY-WEDGIE-EN?)... Where have you been?
WELTA'SUWALUL (WELL-DAW-SOO-WALL-OOL).....I am happy to see you.
KEWISINN? (GEWWY-SINN?) ....Are you hungry?
WANTAQPA'SI (WON-TAWQ-BOSSY)...Settle down.
WELIWULA'QW (WELLY-WOOL-LOG).....Nice evening/ good evening.
NI'NNEEN....Me
KI'LGEEL...You
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samqwano'q
Pronunciation guide: sam·hkwa·noohk
Meanings:
⦁ water pitcher
⦁ water container
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Pronoun and Verb Study
ni’n (neen) me, myself (1st person singular)
ki’l (geel ) you (2nd person singular)
nekm (Neh-kum) he/she (3rd person singular)
ninen (Nee-nen) we (1st person dual exclusive)
kinu (Kee-noo) we (1st person dual inclusive)
kilew (Gill-oh) you ( 2nd person dual)
nekmowkw (Neh-gum-mow-kw) they (3rd person dual)
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Kwe', welta'si na' nike' pekisin.- Kwe', wela'lin wet-tluen....Hello, I'm glad you came.- Hello, thank you for saying that.
Me'talein?- O' welei. Katu ki'l?- Welei..... How are you?- Oh, I'm fine. What about you? I'm fine.
Me'talein?- O' mu weleyim. .....How are you?- Oh, I'm not well.
Welikiskik a?- Welikiskik tata'n.....It's a nice day?- It's a nice day indeed.
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Kiskuk ... Today .... GIS-GOOK
Apoqnmu'l ... help her/him .... UB-OAK-QA-NEM-OOOL
Kitap ... your friend .... GEE-TUP
Ko'kmaw ... your relative ... GOH-GIM-A-W
Kisna ... or .... GIS-NA
Msît wen ... everyone .... MM-SIT WHEN
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tami wejien? - Where are you coming from? (sounds like--- dummy wedj gee en)

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 Blend Klusuaqnn(Two Letters Make One Sound)
aw sounds like scoutawsami aw-saw-me to muchawti ow-de roadklitaw gl-ee-dow raspberry
ew no english soundewle’jit ew-lay-jeet He/she is poorP~tew bee-dow brothKun’tew goon-dow rock
iw no english soundkiwnik key-wa-nik ottersiwe’k See-wag It is boringkiwto’qatek geew-toq-a-deck It is round
ow sounds like oakte’sipow day-see-bow horsenekmowey nah-gum-oh-way that onewowkwis wow-gwees fox
a’w sounds like howpiskwa Bees-gwa go intetpaqa’n Det-ba-qan you’re righttmoqta’w Da-moq-dow log
e’w no english soundjijklue’wj Jij-glue-ehh-wj sheepaklasie’w Ug-lussy-ayw Englishmannape’w nah-bayw male bird
ay sounds like icesepay Seh-by this morningkwetmay gwet-my I smokenutay new-dye I need
ey sounds like achemaltejuey mal-day-joo-ay hammermenuekey men-oo-eh-gay I wantsapte’kney sup-day-gun-ay fork
ai sounds like diewaisisk why-sisk animalswaieken why-eh-gun woolpemi’kai Beh-me-guy I am building my home

THE UNKNOWN TRUTH

A Brief History of My Life (The Unknown Truth)

Mothers and (Maqmikawe'sku)  Mother Earth,  have raised me in  (Nujioqon )St. George's Nl., through the sacred seven stages of life.

When I was young the Elders (Nsukwis),  in and around our communities,  through assimilation into society and with  over 520 years or more of suppression,  did not know their Spiritual part of our culture.

Hunting and fishing and gathering berries , trapping in the fall still existed. 

My grandfather made a living of trading animals such as  foxes, mink, beaver etc… to sell or trade the pelts .

Only a few people know medicines,  such as knowledge of  hubush,  or bear root and  kinikwejitewaqsi, which is ground juniper,etc…

 Very few knew the Mi'kmaq language. 

I was taught English, Latin , and French in day school and I had a hard time trying to stay with the system .  I wanted to be in the bush , the country, walking Mother Earth and listening  to the creeks sing slow melodies to me . 

My thoughts were more clear in that environment  , and I always had this inner piece and spiritual sense when I was  with nature and it  became a huge part of my being.

Being from a poor family I still felt rich with love and respect  for  my parents , and I was always attached to my grand- mother and Elderly people in the community.

Only after 1980's  , when I went to a meeting with the Federation of Newfoundland Indians,  did  my awareness of my ancestor's  past come  to light.

Nevertheless,  my Aunt Josephine always told me I was Mi'kmaq.

 I started asking questions to the Elders and family members who were  Mi'kmaq Indians.

Very little was known,  but still yet today the spiritual strength,  in my inner soul,  stays with me.

I had passed almost a quarter  of my life standing strong with earthly objects, physical things,  that meant a whole lot to me and yet I didn't know the true meaning.

After years passed I became Chief of the Band Council in St.Georges and learned Mi'kmaq songs, chants from George Paul and got some teachings from Cathy Joe,  Mi'kmaq tribal teachers,  and many teachers from the Mi'kmaq Nation.

I went on and formed a Mi'kmaq warrior drum group and women's drum groups, and many groups after that , still learning and my interest grew   even stronger and gained more spiritual strength that stayed with me.

 I had to learn to be humble as I got older and this was a hard task .

I have accomplished many things in my life but my biggest reward was to finally find my true Identity and I lived the Mi'kmaq way of life .

I was now aware of many things . such as  truly staying on a path that the Creator intended for Indian people of the Mi'kmaq Nation that I'm so proud of ,  the  First Peoples of the Land   in North America .

Pikto'l Sa'ke'j Muise
Victor James Muise

LIFE'S JOURNEY

Important and Informative

I have sensed a deep connection to my SPIRITUALITY from a very early age.

 I hunted , fished , gathered berries and wild vegetables (living off and on the land).I was accustomed to Mother Earth and traveled with my uncle and cousins and spent most of my l spare  time walking the country of Western Newfoundland,sleeping in old log cabins. Side camps were home to me for many nights at a time.

My teachers from our Mi'kmaq traditions were SPIRITUAL,  Mi'kmaw  and traditional  L'NU; George Paul and Cathy Joe. Their teachings have sustained me throughout my life.

From a very early age I was taught to be respectful of my ELDERS. Respect and a helping them  were part of what was done for the ELDERS in our Community.

I joined the FNI in 1985 ( having only scratched the surface) of my SPIRITUAL understandings. At that time many people in Bay George did not know they had ties with the Mi'kmaq Nation. The L'nu of K'taqmkuk have since then taken a stand to revitalize their CULTURE which had been almost lost and forgotten.

When I helped kick start the St. George's Band and in 1989 was affiliated with FNL, I  became Chief of the St. George's Indian Band.  I acquired  a building for the Mi'kmaq of St. George to have their meetings.

  I set up a Mi'kmaq drum and singing group here in the Bay St. George area. I took direction from the ELDERS' who sat on our council. This is how Mi'kmaq people make decisions.

 I volunteered my time making presentations in the  school system here on the West Coast and also helped set up a group in Central Newfoundland and later set up a group at the Native Friendship Center in St. John's.

When my marriage broke up I turned to drinking. The emotional pain  was too much to bear and alcohol numbed this profound hurting. After a while with some help from my friends and family, I got the help I needed and stopped drinking.

During my working days as I was young, I sailed with the  Upper Lake Shipping Company from Toronto and sailed the whole Western Seaboard.

 I worked in the forests fields as a Forest Ranger 11 and was later fire Boss over the unit , here in the Bay St, George area, working throughout the Island and in Labrador.

 In later years I  worked as prospector on the Island and in Labrador.

 I spent time volunteering at Native Friendship Centers  with youth and I helped set up programs. I traveled in the many Provinces throughout Canada and in my spare time I stayed at my cabin up Flat Bay Brook in Helch Gulch in part , for 27 years .

Trying to stay on a spiritual path is very hard, although I have received much respect for my accomplishments over the past thirty years. In those years we had no pipe carries, sweat lodge keepers , spirit name givers, or  medicine people. 

People barely knew the Mi'kmaq language and as I was completely lost living in an European society.

In 2014 many of our Mikmaq people on K'taqmkuk gathered at our Mawiomi and every one was saying Pjila'si-welcome and there were over three thousand people present on Saturday.

 Many of our youth attended the gathering which made me so proud because twenty years ago there was very few of our youth dressed in full regalia and trying to learn more about our Mi'kmaq culture.

In concluding this writing I want to say we are fortunate to have some Mi'kmaq people that are Mi'kmaq Elders and teachers here in the Bay St. George area. However people are coming out of the woodwork from here and everywhere professing to be Mi'kmaq teachers, pipe carries, name givers and sweat lodge keepers.

I know to be a pipe carrier one must be recognized by the community and those people are hard to find to fill that role in Mi'kmaq society.

 The same goes for a Traditional Mi'kmaq Teacher of our culture. 

The honour of being a sweat lodge keeper is only given to a person when he has been a helper for many years. This person must be seen as be living by our 7 spiritual teachings , even  before they are considered to hold such a responsibility. Some people don't even make it and the name givers have to go through a sacred ceremony and then a name might be revealed.

Our youth are looking for direction from our ELDERS and TEACHERS about our way of life and how we live as Mi'kmaq. It is important that we have a discussion about who these people are and recognize these ELDERS and TEACHERS in a ceremony to present them to our COMMUNITY .

Pikto'l Sa'ke'j Muise..VJM

"Mandiewagque"
Up Flat Bay Brook