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