Míkmaq (Míkmawísimk)
Míkmaq is an Algonquian language with about 8,000 speakers in Canada and the
USA, mainly in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, but also in Quebec, Prince Edward Island,
Newfoundland and Maine. The Míkmaq called themselves L’nu’k (the people) and their
language L’nui’sin. The word Míkmaq comes from their word nikmaq,
meaning “my kin-friends.” The language is also known as Micmac, Mi’gmaq, Miigmao
or Restigouche.
Míkmaq was originally written with a ‘hieroglyphic’ system. In 1691 a French
missionary named Fater La Clerq noticed Míkmaq children using the system as
a memory aid and adapted to write scriptures. In 1894 a method of writing
Míkmaq with Latin alphabet was devised by Silas T. Rand, who used it to
translate religious works, a number of other material and a grammar. A new
Latin spelling system was developed in 1974.
Míkmaq pronunciation
Sample text in Míkmaq
Msit mimajulnu’k weskwijinu’ltijik alsumsultijik aqq newte’ tett wkpimte’tmut
aqq koqwajo’taqnn wejkul’aqmititl.
(Article 1, Wtui’katikn wjit Koqwajo’taqann Mimajuinu’k Wejkuaqmi’tij)
Translation
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are
endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a
spirit of brotherhood.
(Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights)
Sample text in the Míkmaq ‘hieroglyphic’ script
Links
Examples of the various written forms of Míkmaq
http://198.62.75.1/www1/pater/JPN-micmac.html
Online Míkmaq lessons
http://www.firstnationhelp.com/ali/
Míkmaq Pronunciation and Spelling Guide
http://www.native-languages.org/mikmaq_guide.htm
Information about the Míkmaq
http://museum.gov.ns.ca/arch/infos/mikmaq1.htm
http://mrc.uccb.ns.ca/mikmaq.html
Míkmaq Resource Centre
http://mrc.uccb.ns.ca
Online Míkmaq dictionaries
http://www.mikmaqonline.org
http://www.lib.unb.ca/Texts/Maliseet/dictionary/