• Age: 4 to 8
• Grade: p to 3

The Mi’kmaq people have been here since the ice began to melt over this great land. They learned the medicines in nature to keep them healthy and they hunted the animals of the land and fished the waters of the sea. During the summer months they would gather in large community groups to celebrate, dance and sing. When the cold winds started to blow, they would go off in their own little family units to survive the winter. It was a hard life and it was always a struggle to make it through the long cold winters. One thing is certain, at night, by the campfire under the stars those families would tell stories, stories about who they were, where they came from, and all the lessons they needed to learn about life. Those stories passed on traditions, songs, language and the culture of the Mi’kmaq people. Here we present to you just a couple of those stories that were passed down from generation to generation. Hear them, learn from them, experience them, but most of all enjoy them!

Julie Pellissier-Lush, M.S.M, is an actress, the bestselling author of My Mi'kmaq Mother, Mi'kmaq Campfire Stories of Prince Edward Island, Epekwitk Mi'kmaq Poetry, and Amazing L'nu'k, past Poet Laureate for PEI, and recipient of two Queen's Jubilee medals, in 2013 and 2023, the Meritorious Service Medal in 2017, and the Senators 150 medal in April 2019. She grew up all over Eastern Canada and spent several years in Winnipeg, Manitoba, before coming back home. Julie graduated from the University of Winnipeg in 2000 with a double major in Psychology and Human Resource Management. She writes, acts, and does photography to preserve the history and culture of the Mi'kmaq for future generations. Julie wrote the poems for the play Mi'kmaq Legends, which has been performed on many different stages in the Atlantic region. It is her hope that this play will someday travel across Canada and beyond so more people can learn about the rich Mi'kmaw history! Julie lives in PEI with her husband, Rick, her five children, and her granddaughter, Miah.

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Laurie Ann Marie Martin is a graphic and freelance artist. Her graphic design business Laurs Graphics, focuses on illustrating Mi’kmaw culture, legends and matching them to curriculum outcomes in order to create educational packages for schools. She designed and illustrated Anntastic: Anne of Green Gables Colouring Book (published by Nimbus Publishing).

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