Dawnland Voices: An Anthology of Indigenous Writing from New England

Introduction

21 Introduction Jaime Battiste The Mi’kmaq have occupied the eastern coast and forests of Canada and the New England area, which collectively is called Mi’kma’ki, for as long as anyone can remember. The Mi’kmaq continue to transmit their knowledge, beliefs, customs, and practices through performances and oral traditions, based on storytelling, songs, ceremonies, symbols, and literacies, including wampum to record important teachings. Representing some of these legacies, I have sought to balance the writings in this section across the Mi’kmaw districts from New England, New Brunswick, the Gaspé Peninsula in Quebec, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland. As may be seen on a map, this territory is shaped like a crescent moon and symbolized as such on the Mi’kmaw flag. Since at least the sixteenth century, Mi’kmaw people have been in contact with Europeans and have conducted diplomatic relations through treaties, compacts, agreements, and concordats with European sovereigns and other national powers. Much has been written and documented about Mi’kmaq from the viewpoint of Eurocentric scholars, but many of these sources are based on outsiders’ perceptions about Mi’kmaq. Over the past generation, guided by Mi’kmaw scholars, Elders, students, and leaders, a Mi’kmaw renaissance has emerged, with many Mi’kmaw authors beginning to build not only on written history but also on Mi’kmaw knowledge and on traditions within Mi’kma’ki. In particular, the late Mi’kmaw author Rita Joe reminds us that it is important for Mi’kmaq to create writing, instead of just being written about. This collection of essays, stories, poetry, and fiction was gathered with an aim of learning from the Mi’kmaw people through their words, experiences, imagination, creativity, and perspectives. Their writings demonstrate Mi’kmaw people’s resilience under the suffering and humiliation of colonization as well as showcase Mi’kmaw talents. This work continues to show readers that Mi’kmaw knowledge and culture are current, dynamic, 22 mi’kmaq and gathering strength as contributions by academics, storytellers, and students build on Mi’kmaw teachings, voices, and visions. Recognizing that “history” is a contested Eurocentric discipline, Mi’kmaq have understood their traditions in a different way, and this is a key theme within this set of readings. Mi’kmaw poets and their creative storytelling have also been instrumental in taking a moment in time and capturing it with a few poignant words. The late Rita Joe has led the way, inspiring a new generation of Mi’kmaw poets who continue to tell a new story for Mi’kmaq through poetry and creative writing. This collection can give only a glimpse of the poetry and other genres that circulate among Mi’kmaq. Mi’kmaw academics have analyzed the colonial experience of the Mi’kmaq in five periods. The first is precontact, which marks an indeterminate time before the late sixteenth century, which in turn marks the beginning of the second period, the contact period. The third period is the treaty diplomacy era (1630–1796), in which Mi’kmaq diplomats advocated for and negotiated treaties with European settlers and royalty . The treaty denial era (1800–1982) is the fourth period, marking a dark time in our experience, when Mi’kmaw people were denied the rights that they had negotiated and when they often were the target of assimilation policies aimed at destroying the Mi’kmaq culture, language, knowledge, and ways of life. The fifth period is the treaty recognition era (1982 to present day). During the first period Mi’kmaw people had their own governance structure, with an economy based on trade within our nations and an education based on survival and cooperation. Within Mi’kmaw teachings of this period are many stories that are viewed as fundamental to Mi’kmaq life. Undoubtedly, one of the most famous is the Mi’kmaw creation story, which contains many teachings about our holistic relationships with our families and our ecosystem. We have chosen a shorter version, translated and transmitted through generations and recorded by Keptin Stephen Augustine, a member of the Mi’kmaw Grand Council, which is the traditional governance structure of the Mi’kmaw people and continues to exist today despite years of oppression and discrimination. Author Daniel Paul has been a passionate activist and advocate for justice for the Mi’kmaq to correct the history of oppression, assimilation, and cultural genocide. His book We Were Not the Savages has been a compelling [18.119.107.96] Project MUSE (2024-04-25 03:32 GMT...