The Seven Districts

1
The Seven Districts

• Moving through MiKmawgi

2
Henery wants to go from Yarmouth to Northern Cape
Breton. How can he get there?
3
Think Back

• Now picture the journey without roads, highways,
  railways or trail cuts
• What will he have to travel though?

4
Beginning of the journey
5
A day in
6
A little better
7
Almost there
8
The Strait of Canso!
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The final leg
10
Thinking about the 7 districts

• The MiKmaw divided their territory into 7
  districts. In groups of 4 use an atlas to divide
  the maritimes into 7 districts. The districts do
  not have to be equal but the divisions should be
  easily remembered.

11
The Actual 7 Districts
12
The Seven Districts
Traditional Name Geographic Location Description
Sikniktewaq Cumberland and NB. Counties of West Moreland, St. Johns, Kent and Queens Drainage area
Sikepne'katik Halifax, Lunenburg, Kings, Hants, and Colchester Ground Nut Place/ Wild potato Area
Eski'kewaq Guysborough to Halifax Counties Skin Dressers territory
Epekwitk aqq Piktuk Pictou and PEI Lying in the water and where explosions are made
Kespukwitk Queens, Shelburne, Yarmouth, Digby, and Annapolis Last Flow
Unama'kik Cape Breton Island Land of the fog
Kespekewaq Richibucto and Gaspe The Last Land
13
Points to Remember

• Messages had to get from one end of the territory
  to the other
• Geography determined their organization
  landmarks had to be easily distinguished and
  recognizable
• Travel from one district to another was done with
  respect and consideration of the impact of their
  travel on the people and the wildlife because
  resources were accounted for and were scarce

14
Formative Assessment
On a blank map of the Maritimes label the original seven districts. Include the MiKmaw name and the English translation. 2. Referring to your Seven Districts Map, describe a journey from Land Ends to Land of Fog. What areas are you passing through? What does the area look like? What kinds of things do you see? On your way back you are sent by elders from The Skin Dressers Territory to Last Land. What do you see? How many territories did you pass through? Which areas are you passing through? Why do you think it would be important to pass through each territory considering the people and wildlife you find with the upmost respect?