The Role of Animals in Mi'kmaw Spirituality
This article examines the relationship between humans and other animals in the lives of the L'nuk, the Indigenous people of Mi'kma'ki. I argue that within the spiritualities of the L'nuk human beings and other animals are both credited with having spirits and personhood and a spi...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Print Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | |
| Interlibrary Loan: | Interlibrary Loan for the Fachinformationsdienste (Specialized Information Services in Germany) |
| Published: |
2022
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| In: |
Concilium
Year: 2022, Issue: 4, Pages: 101-112 |
| Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Micmac
/ Spirituality
/ Animals
|
| IxTheo Classification: | AG Religious life; material religion BB Indigenous religions KBQ North America NCG Environmental ethics; Creation ethics |
| Further subjects: | B
Spirituality
B Animals B Hunting |
| Summary: | This article examines the relationship between humans and other animals in the lives of the L'nuk, the Indigenous people of Mi'kma'ki. I argue that within the spiritualities of the L'nuk human beings and other animals are both credited with having spirits and personhood and a spiritual connection to land and to the creator. The ideal relationships of an L'nu to other animals is to acknowledge them as friends and relatives, expressed in the phrase 'M'sit No'kmaq', which means "all my relations." The L'nuwey value of netukulimk instructs us to kill only those animals we require for food and clothing to survive. The relationship of kinship/friendship is further demonstrated in traditional and contemporary L'nuwey stories, iconography, art, hunting protocols that demonstrate respect, and environmental activism to protect animals and their ecosystems. The significant role of animals in L'nuwey culture means that activities which affirm a connection to them also reinforce and affirm cultural and national identity. |
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| ISSN: | 0010-5236 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Concilium
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