Mikmaq

Mi'kmaq, also spelled Mikmaq, are a First Nations people whose traditional homeland, Mi'kma'ki, extends along the Atlantic coast from what is now Quebec’s Gaspé Peninsula to New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and parts of Maine in the United States. They are a member of the Wabanaki Confederacy, a historic alliance with Maliseet, Passamaquoddy, and other Indigenous nations.

The Mi'kmaq language (Mi'kmawísimk) is an Algonquian language still spoken in communities and taught in schools as part of language revitalization efforts. It has several dialects and orthographies and is considered endangered in some areas. In daily life, many Mi'kmaq also speak English or French, and language programs aim to strengthen intergenerational transmission.

Historically, the Mi'kmaq were hunter–fisher–gatherers who used coastal resources and maintained extensive trade and diplomatic relations with French, English, and other Indigenous and colonial powers. The colonial era brought significant changes, including land loss and assimilation pressures, but Mi'kmaq communities preserved identity through governance structures and cultural practices. In recent decades they have pursued land claims, self-government arrangements, and broader participation in regional and national politics and education.

Today, many Mi'kmaq live in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Quebec, maintaining fishing, craft-making, and community life while engaging in language preservation and rights advocacy. Notable communities include Eskasoni and Membertou in Nova Scotia, among others, as Mi'kmaq organizations work to preserve culture and advance Indigenous rights within Canada and beyond.