The Seven DistrictsThe Seven Districts

Moving through Mi’kma’kiMoving through Mi’kma’ki..

OutcomesOutcomes

• I1. Students will be expected to demonstrate an understanding of who the Mi’kmaq people are, including their connections to the traditional lands called Mi’kma’ki.

Henry wants to go from Yarmouth to Northern Cape Breton. How can he get there?

Think Back…Think Back…

• Now picture the journey without roads, highways, railways or trail cuts…

• What will he have to travel though?

Beginning of the journey…Beginning of the journey…

A day in…A day in…

A little better…A little better…

Almost there…Almost there…

The Strait of Canso!The Strait of Canso!

The final leg…The final leg…

The Actual 7 DistrictsThe Actual 7 Districts

Traditional Name Geographic Location Description

Sikniktewaq Cumberland and NB. Counties of West Moreland, St. Johns, Kent and Queens

Drainage area

Sikepne'katik Halifax, Lunenburg, Kings, Hants, and Colchester

Ground Nut Place/ Wild potato Area

Eski'kewaq Guysborough to Halifax Counties

Skin Dressers territory

Epekwitk aqq Piktuk Pictou and PEI Lying in the water and where explosions are made

Kespukwitk Queens, Shelburne, Yarmouth, Digby, and Annapolis

Last Flow

Unama'kik Cape Breton Island Land of the fog

Kespe’kewaq Richibucto and Gaspe The Last Land

The Seven DistrictsThe Seven Districts

Last FlowLast Flow

Skin Dressers TerritorySkin Dressers Territory

Ground Nut Place/ Wild Potato Area

The Explosive PlaceThe Explosive Place

The Land of FogThe Land of Fog

Lying in the WaterLying in the Water

Drainage AreaDrainage Area

The Last LandThe Last Land

Points to RememberPoints to Remember

• Messages had to get from one end of the territory to the other

• Geography determined their organization – landmarks had to be easily distinguished and recognizable

• Travel from one district to another was done with respect and consideration of the impact of their travel on the people and the wildlife because resources were accounted for and were scarce

• Travellers needed to stop at the edges of the district to ask permission to use the resources in the other districts.

Formative AssessmentFormative Assessment

1. On a blank map of the Maritimes label the original seven districts. Include the Mi’Kmaw name and the English translation.

2. Referring to your Seven Districts Map, describe a journey from “Land Ends” to “Land of Fog”. What areas are you passing through? What does the area look like? What kinds of things do you see? On your way back you are sent by elders from “The Skin Dressers Territory” to “Last Land”. What do you see? How many territories did you pass through? Which areas are you passing through? Why do you think it would be important to pass through each territory considering the people and wildlife you find with the upmost respect?