Six Micmac Stories

by Ruth Holmes Whitehead, Harold McGee

These six Mi'kmaq stories are great tales, brilliantly retold by Ruth Whitehead. They have their roots firmly planted in the collective life of a people who had made Nova Scotia their home for centuries before the arrival of the Europeans. They offer us a rare and valuable insight into the powerful relationship between the Mi'kmaq and the often surprising world in which they lived.

Genres: Indigenous

51 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

Ruth Holmes Whitehead is a renowned historian and ethnologist. She has worked with the Nova Scotia Museum for over 40 years, first as assistant curator in history and now as research associate.

The author of several books, including Six Mi’kmaq Stories, The Old Man Told Us, and Black Loyalists, Ruth lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She was awarded the prestigious Order of Nova Scotia in 2014 in recognition for her contributions to documenting the province's cultural history.

Reviews

[Mell Martella]

It's really well put together and ensures you understand the entirety of each tale in the way they were meant to be understood. Each little story is excellently told and takes you to another time and place.

[Steve M]

An interesting collection of Mi'kmaq stories that generally provide guidance on how to live within society. Each story is followed by a small explanation, both in storytelling and within the context of the culture. There's some really funny moments in these stories!

[Marlowe]

I’ve recently started some research into fairytales and, while my focus has been on European myths, I have also been looking into other cultures.

I found this book to be very interesting. There are only six short stories, but they are well selected to cover a number of cultural aspects. I also enjoyed the short commentary provided after each story. It explained a bit about the symbolic significance of aspects of the story, as well as some cultural background necessary to appreciate the narrative.

Overall, it’s a a very short read, essentially a quick dip into Micmac storytelling. It’s by no means authoritative. The stories mostly have positive messages and, with the exception of a few scary moments, would be appropriate for kids.

[Laura]

Intriguing short stories that have been past down by generation after generation. If you are into myth or mi'kmaq culture this book is nice addition to your reading list