Amlamgog launches Mi’kmaq audio interpretation on Muin Medicine Trail
A crowd gathered at the head of the Fort Folly Muin Medicine Trail on June 21 to mark National Indigenous Peoples’ Day, and celebrate the trail’s new Mi’kmaq language audio interpretive panels.
Chief Rebecca Knockwood told the crowd that the inclusion of Mi’kmaq language on the trail is a fundamental part of the process of bringing back the First Nation’s culture and identity.
Amlamgog cultural coordinator Nicole Porter organized the event, which was held at Amlamgog for the first time. Porter led the crowd in a prayer, and accompanied Amlamgog youth who drummed the Mi’kmaq honour song.
CHMA spoke with Amlamgog land manager Michelle Knockwood, who coordinated the trail upgrades through a partnership with Parks Canada.
The Muin Medicine Trail dates back to 2011, and included text panels in French and English. Bringing Mi’kmaq language to the trail is “something I’ve wanted for a very long time,” says Knockwood. “And it’s so nice that it’s finally come to fruition.”
Knockwood is particularly excited that Amlamgog youth and visitors will be able to hear spoken Mi’kmaq (recorded by Elsipogtog elder Kenneth Francis) and follow along with text on the panels.… Continue
Knockwood on Mi’gmaq title claim: ‘It’s about time we asserted our rights’
Last week, eight Mi’gmaq First Nations in New Brunswick jointly issued a statement asserting title over the land and waters of most of the province. Sackville and Dorchester neighbour Amlamgog (Fort Folly) is one of the nations joining in the title claim, led by Mi’gmawe’l Tplu’taqnn (MTI), a non-profit organization representing New Brunswick’s Mi’gmaq nations.
CHMA dropped in on Amlamgog chief Rebecca Knockwood on Tuesday to find out more about the title claim and what it means.
The nations are asking the provincial government to negotiate with them over the recognition and implementation of the title. Ideally, says Amlamgog Chief Rebecca Knockwood, ”[the province comes] to the table, they sit down with us, and they negotiate. And we start doing some resource revenue sharing with the province.”
Knockwood says the title assertion is a way of notifying the provincial government and the public that, “the lands and waters in New Brunswick that we and our ancestors have used, occupied, stewarded and cared for during thousands of years—they belong to us.”
The map published by MTI shows their title assertion covers most of New Brunswick, except for a narrow portion along the western border and a larger area in the southwest. Despite the size of the claim, Knockwood says average New Brunswick property owners should not be worried.
“We’re not seeking to take people’s homes and cottages away,” says Knockwood.… Continue