Spirituality

Mi’kmaq Language and Spirituality: Names for God*

• MNTU Originally “Manitou,” this name had its meaning changed to “devil” by the early missionaries.

• KISU’LKW (pronounced “gisoolk”), “creator.” This is a transitive verb that literally means “creating,” and is therefore not gender-specific. Also, the verbal form indicates that everything, including ultimate reality, is dynamic, in constant flux. There are many other names for the creator, all of them verbs.

• NISKAM The Christian missionaries needed a masculine God (“Our Father”), so they took the Mi’kmaq name for “grandfather” and modified it. This is still the most common name for God among the Mi’kmaq.

*Source: Bernie Francis, “Thought Processes Embedded in the Mi’kmaw Language” (Talk delivered at St.F.X., Spring 1998)

“The Cycle of Life” (Mi’kmaq Spiritual Teachings)*

• 1. Basic Beliefs

• 2. Basic Values

• 3. Ages of Life

• 4. The Seven Virtues

1. Basic Beliefs

• A. The Great Spirit is the source of all things. The other beliefs follow from this.

• B. All things are good.

• C. All things are interconnected.

• D. The creator’s presence is evident in all things.

• E. We exist primarily as a collective, joined with each other, our ancestors, all nature (both seen and unseen), and the Creator.

• In Prof. Marshall’s words, “Mi’kmaq perspectives are spiritually rooted in our understanding of what is around us. These are being constantly reinforced by the belief in the teachings of our Elders. We have been taught since childhood to co-exist with Nature, the seen and the unseen, to recognize the good and evil, in a balance of understanding and accepting our beliefs.”

2. Basic Values

• A. Generosity: Giving whatever is needed whenever it is needed; hence, no hoarding

• B. Stewardship: No private ownership. In principle, all property is common property, belonging to no one and to everyone.

• C. Harmony with all things: Everything and everybody deserves respect.

3. Ages of Life

• Spiritual development occurs in four stages and is cyclical. The different meanings of tears reveal the character of each stage:

• 1. From 1 to 7: Children’s tears have little value because they are abundant and come easily.

• 2. From 7 to 14: Teenagers have begun to understand the importance of emotional pain over physical pain. They have some idea of what respect means, and there is a special place for grief.

• 3. From 14 to 21: Tears become genuinely significant as young adults distinguish kinds of emotions and no longer shed tears because of physical pain.

• 4. From 21 to 28: An adult can appreciate the different elements of well being. The goal of this stage is to face one’s weaknesses. This enables a person to strengthen her goodness. A full spiritual life is possible once one has learned to appreciate the good in oneself and to connect this goodness with the goodness in all things.

4. The Seven Virtues

• Spiritual growth involves acquiring the seven virtues. These are interdependent and acquired in chronological order:

• Love

• Honesty

• Humility

• Respect

• Truth

• Patience

• Wisdom

*From an unpublished paper by Professor Murdena Marshall, UCCB