Kwe’,On behalf of the Flat Bay Mi’kmaq Band and community of Flat Bay/St. Teresa’s, I would like to introduce you to our home, people and culture. This site is intended to give you reliable information about who we are, what our band and community is up to and how we have formed our identity to be what it is.
There are many misconceptions about the Mi’kmaq culture and our community in general. For generations, there was a suppression of the culture nurtured by social, economic and political pressures. With the exception of the steady efforts of some of our Elders to maintain our way of life, the vast majority of the people found it necessary to stray from their true identity and the traditional ways of life. However, it is important to know that the people of our community and culture were and still are humanitarians by heart, focused primarily on survival and living in fellowship, peace and simplicity. Many of the practices and mind-sets that lent to that way of life have indeed lived on and are still evident in our community today.
In the last five years, I have noticed a rapidly growing revival of the culture initiated by our youth. I am proud to say that many of the people are exploring the answers to their spiritual quests and looking to the culture to deepen their lives. I see that many now are practicing and maturing beautifully in the traditional ways. On that note, we do have to be careful of romanticized views that suggest Mi’kmaq live perfectly in harmony with all of nature and are fully conscious of spirits. People tend to assume that what applies to one Aboriginal culture applies to all, when each culture truly has it’s own set of practices to suit its particular influences and conditions. We need to realize that each tribe, like people, must find their own path in life and the ways that best suit their own circumstances and identity.
Having said that, it is true that the majority of the people are indeed spiritually gifted and do have the skills to live in harmony with nature. The forces of mere survival here in Newfoundland have caused the people to develop traditions that enabled them to create a relationship with nature and as a result, their spiritual awareness can be extremely sensitive. These traits have been inherited by generations and I truly believe that the revival of the culture will stimulate these dormant abilities and gifts in those practicing. I see we are now on the cusp of evolving a visible, highly dynamic race. I also believe that the culture can solve a lot of plaguing issues in our society today, is a way to heal the nation and through it we can definitely create a life of wellness and deeper meaning.
I sincerely hope that as a visitor that you will find this site gives you a real and in-depth picture of our community and the people. If you are a relation, I hope you leave here feeling re-connected to home and inspired by the divine abilities and gifts, within you, passed down by your ancestors and provided by the power of the Almighty Creator.
