Reporting in Mi'kma'ki

07/07/2023

Reporting in Mi'kma'ki partnered with APTN National News to share our stories to a wider audience. Check it out!

Student journalists in the Reporting in Mi’kma’ki course headed to Eskasoni in the lead up to the NAIG 2023. They discovered sports is about more than a game.

28/06/2023

Eskasoni softball player Elle Gould will head to the 2023 North American Indigenous Games for Team Mi’kmaw Nova Scotia. Eldon Gould will cheer her on as both her dad and coach 🥎

27/06/2023

I'm just so grateful with the sport of basketball that has shaped and has blessed me for so many things." said John Denny Sylliboy.

At 19, Sylliboy became the first Mi’kmaw to play at a university level on Cape Breton University’s team, the Capers, from 2003 to 2007.

Since then, Sylliboy has influenced hundreds of young basketball players and says his story illustrates the importance of sport in community.

"Every time I see kids, I always tell them that you have potential. You'll be someone. You just gotta know what you're good at."

John Denny Sylliboy shares how basketball has impacted his life and why he wants to pass it along to the next generation.

24/06/2023

"The flight of the arrow is a spiritual extension of who I am and who my ancestors were. It's important to pass those skills on because I'm honouring the legacy of my ancestors...the story doesn't end with me." – Clifford Paul, archery coach, Team Mi'kmaw NS

20/06/2023

“Our small nation in this little corner of North America. We exist, our language is strong, our culture is here, our culture is strong, and our young people are the same way.” – Michael R. Denny, Cultural Committee, NAIG 2023

Michael R. Denny recalls the magic of entering his uncle Po’pi Poulette’s basket shop at eleven years old to watch him create a wooden instrument the Mi’kmaq call the ji’kmaqn. 

19/06/2023

“I believe that our language is a gift from our creator."

Beverly Jeddore, longtime Mi'kmaw educator, is the language lead for the North American Indigenous Games (NAIG 2023).

On a rainy day in late May, the countdown is on for Mi’kmaw educator Beverley Jeddore, busy getting ready for the North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) happening in Nova Scotia this July.

17/06/2023

"This is a once in a lifetime opportunity.” Elle Gould will pitch for Nova Scotia's softball team at the North American Indigenous Games (NAIG 2023).

Elle Gould grew up on the ballfield. As a young child, she recalls watching her dad, cousins, aunts and uncles playing softball at Apamuek Ballfield on Shore Road in Eskasoni, a Mi’kmaw community in Unama’ki (Cape Breton). The wide open, dirt field is in the middle of the community, only minutes...

14/06/2023

“This ball here has done so much for me. It has given me the opportunity to meet new people, learn new things, travel the world. And it was all because of this,” says John Denny Sylliboy, holding up a basketball.

“To this day now people look up to me like I’m the basketball godfather.”

It was the summer of 1999 when 15-year-old John Denny Sylliboy started playing basketball with his friends in Eskasoni, Unama'ki (Cape Breton), the largest Mi’kmaw community in the world. 

12/06/2023

“For me, the flight of the arrow is a spiritual extension of who I am and who my ancestors were,” says Clifford Paul, a Mi’kmaw archer and archery coach. “It's still who we are today.”

https://reportinginmikmaki.wixsite.com/2023/archery

11/06/2023

In the countdown to NAIG 2023, Reporting in Mi'kma'ki journalism students focused their stories on the importance of sports in community and culture.

University of King's College, Halifax Nova Scotia Community College - NSCC

The North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) is coming to Nova Scotia in July 2023. Mi’kmaw culture and language will be on display as well as sports. The Reporting in Mi’kma’ki class decided to highlight stories about the deep connection between sports, culture and community in Eskasoni. ​

09/06/2023

This year, journalism students in Reporting in Mi'kma'ki wrote stories about the importance of sport in community and culture. A fitting theme given we're just a month away from the North American Indigenous Games – NAIG 2023.

Check out our brand new website just published today!

This course takes place in Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq. The Mi’kmaq have lived here for over 13,500 years. We acknowledge that history and the continued sovereignty of the Mi’kmaw nation today. We recognize the ongoing impact of colonial policies on Indige...

03/06/2023

And sharing a few more photos from Goat Island Cultural Journeys in Eskasoni! It was chilly that day in May, but we ate, we danced, we learned about the Mi'kmaw game of Waltes. Definitely a highlight of our Reporting in Mi'kma'ki course.

University of King's College, Halifax Nova Scotia Community College - NSCC

03/06/2023

Only a few weeks ago it was cold and even snowy in Unama'ki! In mid-May, our Reporting in Mi'kma'ki kicked off our visit to Eskasoni with a tour at Goat Island Cultural Journeys.

We bring journalism students to community to do stories. But it's also about reciprocity, learning, engaging...and eating delicious 4 cent bread over a campfire 😊

Wela'liek to the staff at Goat Island who welcomed us!

University of King's College, Halifax

19/05/2023

Our class caught up with the NAIG 2023 Canoe Relay in Membertou. Sun, rain, hail, wind…a typical ten minutes in Unama’ki 😊

An exciting time in the lead up to the North American Indigenous Games this July in Kjipuktuk and Millbrook First Nation.

University of King's College, Halifax Nova Scotia Community College - NSCC

16/05/2023

The beautiful Qamsipuk river in Eskasoni, Unama'ki. Video by journalism student Molly MacNaughton.

15/05/2023

Stories, teachings, and exercise! Our class hiked up to the cross on the hill in Eskasoni. An amazing view of the beautiful Bras d'Or Lake. Wela'liek, thank you to Shelley Stevens, our guide for the afternoon 😊

University of King's College, Halifax Nova Scotia Community College - NSCC

13/05/2023

Eskasoni welcomed our journalism students with the Honour Song, lead by John Denny Sylliboy. Wela'liek, many thanks to our community liaison George Paul for organizing all the activities for our first day in community!!

Photos and videos of the Honour Song taken with permission from everyone present. Because we always ask! And there are times we don't record. So lots of moments in our first week captured in our minds and hearts but not on on film.

12/05/2023

Journalism students in our Reporting in Mi'kma'ki class headed to the Mi'kmaw community of Eskasoni. We started our week with a welcome from Chief Leroy Denny and our community liaison and longtime journalist and communications pro George Paul.

11/05/2023

Reporting in Mi'kmaki is back in session! Students from Nova Scotia Community College - NSCC and of King's College, Halifax spent Week 1 prepping for our trip to Eskasoni...and that includes cultural protocols! Wela'liek to Emily, our Nsukwi' (Auntie-in-Residence), for the teachings ☺️

18/02/2023

“The Reporting in Mi’kma’ki course taught me to be a better journalist. Elder Albert Marshall spoke with us on one of our last days in Eskasoni and said there is a need to decolonize journalism. We need to be the storytellers for those that have been silenced." – Haeley Cook DiRisio, King's journalism student

The University of King’s College and Nova Scotia Community College students and faculty from the 2022 Reporting in Mi’kma’ki course have won Gold for Best Multicultural Story in the Academic category of the Canadian Online Publishing Awards (COPA).

COPA gave the award for “Kwe’ Eskasoni” published on The Signal. It links to four distinct stories using text, video and photography to explore Mi’kmaw-led conservation work—the course’s guiding theme.

Rogers Chair in Journalism Trina Roache calls the course, “an incredible learning experience for our students.”

“This Gold award acknowledges the hard work of our students but also the wonderful and vital work Mi’kmaq in Eskasoni are doing around conservation and protection of resources based on traditional knowledge and Etuaptmumk (Two-Eyed Seeing). Congrats to Eskasoni! And wela’liek (thank you), for welcoming us.”

Congratulations to Haeley Cook DiRisio, Mitchell Ferguson, Caitlyn Mearns, Lauren Phillips, Connor Sampson, David Joseph Shuman, Yara Younes, Trina Roache, Erin Moore and Terra Tailleur for their work on this project.

Read the full announcement: http://ow.ly/vnxb50MVAq1

(Photo by Trina Roache)

30/01/2023

Online info session #2!! Answers to all your questions. Why does journalism need more Mi'kmaw voices? What's the journalism program like at King's? What is this cohort ? How do you apply?

WHO: Parents, educators, students (high school or university)
WHEN: Thursday, February 9 at 8 p.m.
WHERE: On zoom

Email [email protected] or [email protected] for the zoom link!

King's Nsukwi', Auntie-in-Residence, Emily Pictou Roberts will also be there!

Come join in and find out about King's Journalism program, the new cohort initiative for Mi’kmaw Journalism students, available financial aid & scholarships and supports for Indigenous students.

22/01/2023

We're holding an online info session about the new Mi'kmaw cohort to study journalism at the University of King's College, in Kjipuktuk.

King's will cover tuition for up to three Mi'kmaw students a year who apply for the Bachelor of Journalism (Honours). So high school students, university students who want to transfer into journalism, parents, educators...join us 8pm on Thursday, January 26. You can get the Zoom link and more details below 👇

Wela'lioq aqq Nmu'ltoqsip!

We invite Mi’kmaw students, their families and their teachers to register now for an online information session on Thursday, January 26 at 8 p.m. Meet professor Trina Roache, Rogers Chair in Journalism, and Emily Pictou-Roberts, who was recently welcomed as the first Resident Nsukwi’ (Auntie in ...

16/11/2022

PLEASE SHARE!! Are you a Mi'kmaw student in Unama'kik interested in journalism? Come talk to Mi'kmaw journalist and prof Trina Roache at an info session in Membertou on December 3. Details below!! if you plan to come to the meeting, click on the 'REGISTER HERE' button in the link below. That helps us prepare for the session so we get a sense of who's coming, how many, etc.

A little background – earlier this fall, the University of King's College announced tuition waivers for up to three Mi'kmaw students/year who apply for the four-year journalism program. More info in the link below. We're also planning another session in or near Millbrook. More deets to come on that soon. Wela’lioq!!

We invite Mi’kmaw students and their families to register now for an information session in Membertou on December 3 from 2-3 p.m., at the Muin Room, Membertou Trade and Convention Centre, 50 Maillard Street, Membertou, Nova Scotia, Canada, B1S 3W3. At this session, you can hear from professor Trin...

10/09/2022

Aknutmaqn. Telling our stories! An excellent opportunity at University of King's College, Halifax for Mi’kmaw students. Check it out👇🏽👀

Initiative marks an important step forward in the university’s work to address the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action on education, journalism and media The University of King’s College is dedicating $600,000 over five years to establish a program for Mi’kmaw students who ...

06/07/2022

Mi'kmaw Elder Albert Marshall Sr. says language is alive and needs to be nurtured on a daily basis.

04/07/2022

Tom Johnson explains how the Qamsipuk River in Eskasoni got its name.

30/06/2022

Indigenous History Month may be coming to a close but as we head into July 1 and beyond, Canadians should continue to learn about Indigenous cultures, histories, and contemporary communities. As Mi'kmaw Knowledge Keeper L'lun Wells tells us, the teachings are all around us ❤️

https://vimeo.com/715970684

L'lun (Lawrence) Wells is a knowledge keeper from the Mi'kmaw community of Membertou in Unama'ki, also known as Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. He says…

27/06/2022

Elder Ernest Johnson says the Mi’kmaw concept of Netukulimk is about sustainability. Managing resources. Managing ourselves. “It’s a way to behave.”

Check out the link in bio for all the stories by Reporting in Mi’kma’ki

25/06/2022

"To take the best of the Euro-centric system and retain the best of who you are as a Mi'kmaw person." – Elder Albert Marshall Sr. on the concept of Etuaptmumk (Two-Eyed Seeing), language, and reconciliation.

Mi'kmaw Elder Albert Marshall Sr. talks about the concept of Two-Eyed Seeing, language, and reconciliation.