Mi’kmaw youth dig for artifacts, deepen the connection with their ancestors – CBC

Aug 21, 2023

‘It truly does feel like it’s the ancestors opening up to them,’ says camp co-ordinator Robert Labradore

Indigenous kids from across Nova Scotia are digging, excavating and searching for traditional artifacts at Kejimkujik National Park, part of Parks Canada’s first ever Mi’kmaw youth archeology camp.

It’s called Elapultimk, which translates to looking toward, or looking forward to. The young people are searching for evidence their ancestors were living and working on these lands.

So far, the kids have found nails, glass, charcoal and other materials. But most excitingly, they’ve found various flakes believed to be from stone tools made of quartz or chert.

One of the day-camp’s archeology leaders, Ella Stevens from Acadia First Nation, said Kedge Beach, where the kids were digging on Thursday, would have been a perfect work station or camp site for their Mi’kmaw ancestors.

Read More: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/mi-kmaw-youth-archaeology-camp-parks-canada-kejimkujik-1.6940436