"Mi'kmaw Moons" by Cathy LeBlanc and Dave Chapman

A fascinating introductory guide to the seasons of Mi'kma'ki

There is no calendar more in sync with physical realities of nature than the one based in place. As Europeans spread the Roman calendar across the world, a lot of us found ourselves with months bearing the name of long-dead emperors (July, August) or even numbers (September to December). However calendars, as most of us know, were more diverse across cultures than we now think.

For thousands of years, the Mi’kmaq have depended upon the moons to determine their place in time. This calendar, which is in sync with the new moon, usually has twelve months which span twenty-nine days, each having the full moon at their midst. And each month is named after the corresponding full moon, which each have unique names based on a natural phenomenon of that season. At the arrival of Toqwa’q, or Autumn, let’s dive into the Mi’kmaw Moons of Mi’kmaki.

Why is this on the shelf

The Mi’kmaq population calls home the unceded lands today known as Mi’kma’ki, which cover a big part of the Atlantic provinces of Canada.

They have long lived a semi-nomadic lifestyle according to the seasons, before European expansion across the landscape. That way of life is now radically changed, but some customs are kept. Language is a way to live with a whole unique way of seeing the world, and naming the months as the Mi’kmaq have done for generations until the arrival of the European calendar carries the meaning into the future.

Mi’kmaw Moons serves as a great introduction to the Mi’kmaq language, for children and adults alike. Its stories, and beautiful illustrations, act as ways to transmit a new-to-some, but very much ancient way of seeing the seasons in our corner of Turtle Island, the Dawn Land.

Authors & Editor profile

This book, illustrated by Loretta Gould of Whycobah First Nation, is the product of an alliance between a member of the Acadia First Nation (Cathy LeBlanc) and an astronomer (Dave Chapman).

The two authors’ realities come together in this work, which is in line with Etuaptmumk, the “Two-Eyed Seeing” approach useful for approaching complex systems. The science (astronomy) of the modern world melds with the stories of day-to-day life and the traditional knowledge of the Mi’kmaq, which makes for a very interesting read.

Dave and Cathy appropriately met at Kejimkujik National Park to establish an International Dark Sky Preserve.

« One thing led to another, and soon Dave and Cathy were sharing with each other their knowledge of the night sky and Mi’kmaw ways. Each had much to learn from the other, and the Mi’kmaw moons project began slowly, through long, patient, respectful conversations. » (Leblanc, Chapman, p. 4)

Since then, they have maintained a Facebook page to help teach about the seasons in real-time.

The publisher, Formac, is specialized in books about the Maritimes. It is well-known for its local field books on the nature of the region.

The Layout

In the beginning is an introduction to the Mi’kmaq and the role of stories in their life. In fact, these oral stories are central to cultural transmission, as with most Indigenous cultures.

We are introduced to Holly, a young Mi’kmaq girl, and her Auntie, who is like a mother to her in the way she transmits her knowledge.

As the book goes on, Auntie tells her stories about each month, a great read for young and old alike.

We are treated not only with a captivating tale each month, but also a series of facts related to the months, and a beautiful illustration like the one on the cover, each made by Loretta Gould.

Image : Monica Alexander, Mi’kmaw Moons p. 8

The Calendar

In fact, the months are each named after a natural phenomenon corresponding to the time of year.

As of writing (Mid-September), we are just entering Wikumkewiku’s, the Mate-Calling Time of the moose. We are transitioning from the “extra” thirteenth moon of 2023, A’qatiku’s, added after three years, since each month has approximately 29 days between the moons.

“But how could people forget”? asked Holly. Her auntie replied, “After the Europeans came, the Mi’kmaq started using the European calendar and eventually forgot some of the old ways. There may be Elders out there who remembers, but we have not found them yet.” Holly thought about this. “Well, I hope someone remembers, sometime.” “I hope so too, Holly,” her auntie replied. (Leblanc, Chapman, p. 45)

Fieldnotes

The book can be read all in one go, but the best way to read it, I find, is to absorb it monthly. It can be done to reflect, at each new moon, on the changes in the land brought by the seasons.

We live in a fast-paced time where we sometimes lose track of the impact of nature on ourselves. However, as we integrate natural phenomena in our life, we learn to live at a more human pace, in touch with our natural heritage and the way it affects our own beings.

Toqwa’q - Autumn : “Imagine being surrounded by the darkness of night. All is quiet. Your grandmother tells you to listen for the chirp of the crickets, as this is Mother Earth’s way of telling us that it is now safe to dry our meat for nourishment during winter, when resources will not be as plentiful. Grandmother shares with you that there cannot be too much moisture in the air when the meat is dried. If moisture is present, and you try to dry the meat too soon, it will rot. This time of year is called the Song of the Crickets. You imagine the crickets dancing in the cool air of nightfall.” (Leblanc, Chapman, p. 12)

With the start of Toqwa’q, let’s reflect on how important it is to remember how this land came to us, and let’s be grateful for what life and the Earth give us.

Mi’kmaw Moons can be purchased by clicking on this Linktree link.