ABSTRACT
The fact that no Mi'kmaw people were involved at the Debert site when it was excavated in the 1960s is a puzzle for many, reflecting the isolation of academic inquiry from Mi'kmaw values and cultural practice. While the parallel nature of academic research and life in Mi'kma'ki is not new, it remains true that Mi'kma'ki is the homeland of more than 30,000 Mi'kmaw people living in more than 33 communities. Presently, more than 50% of First Nation people in Nova Scotia are under the age of 25; Mi'kmaw people are the fastest growing population in the Atlantic Provinces (Patten and Associates 2006, 51). Recent community development work shows the highest priorities of Mi'kmaw communities are to understand Mi'kmaw culture and history and to bring healing to both the individual and community levels. Given these demographics and priorities, transferring cultural knowledge, language, and community histories to the next generation is critical to the health and well-being of individuals and communities. It is from these priorities that the Mi'kmawey Debert project has grown.
