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Mi’kmaq Spirituality and Organized Religion

Mi’kmaq Spirituality and Organized Religion. Main Concepts. The spirituality of a people cannot be described on its own. It’s what makes up their culture –something that defines who they are . It is not simply worship of a higher being or holding certain ceremonies.

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Mi’kmaq Spirituality and Organized Religion

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  1. Mi’kmaq Spirituality and Organized Religion Main Concepts

  2. The spirituality of a people cannot be described on its own • It’s what makes up their culture –something that defines who they are . • It is not simply worship of a higher being or holding certain ceremonies. • It is people’s language and their songs, their stories and their dances. • It’s in how they live and interact with each other, and who and what they honour.

  3. Mi’kmaq Spiritual Beliefs • Very humble and Complex • Very Old and dates back thousands of years and has a deep connection to the land. • Passed from one generation to the next by the stories of and teachings of the Elders.

  4. Spiritual Beliefs • Kisu’lk ( the Creator) made the Universe and everything in it. • Plants, animals, people ,and Mother Earth have the Creator’s Spirit in them and must be respected, • Since everything is connected on Earth, no part should be exploited or abused. ( Each part has to be in harmony with the rest)

  5. Practices: How they display their Spirituality • Through Rituals and Ceremonies (acknowledging and giving thanks to a higher power) • Praying ( for food, children, Elders, the Creator) • Celebrating life through funerary ceremonies( no concept of Hell) • Symbols, Customs and Traditions • Dreams

  6. Spiritual World • Mi’kmaq lived their spirituality. • Early settlers thought that the Mi’kmaq were believers of superstitions: they did not understand that the Mi’kmaq wee a people of great spirituality and faith. That’s why they tried to convert them to “ more organized” religious practices.

  7. The Spirit World • The Spirit World • Kinap –a male spirit with special powers that he uses to help the Mi’kmaq • Puowin( male) or Puowini’skw ( female)- a sorcerer or witch spirit who has powers which are used against the Mi’kmaq • Traditional World/ physical World • Creator teaches to gain knowledge from both • There are spirits and people among us who can bring those worlds together.

  8. The Spirit World • Keskimsit – a person born with special power. gifts or strengths. • Nikanijijitekewimu- a person that can predict future • Wiklatmu’j – a spiritual being that lives in the woods. Takes a human form of the man the size of a small child. • Mi’kmmuesu- a spiritual being who can take human form, and appear or disappear at will.Gives supernatural powers to people. • Skite’kmuj- a ghost or spirit of someone who died. • Skitekmujewawti- Milky Way ; a path to the Spirit World

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