The Mi’kmaw Seven Sacred Teachings

Kwe’ Everyone,

I am pleased to share the Mi’kmaw Seven Sacred Teachings. These are beautiful and meaningful teachings that can be used to open a Mawio’mi (gathering), a ceremony, or to begin the day in any public or private school.

The story of the Seven Sacred Teachings is very special to me. During my first month working in Lennox Island in 2010, I discovered this prayer on my desk while organizing. No one knew how it arrived there. I began practicing the prayer and soon shared it over the school PA system so everyone could hear it.

One student later approached me and shared her goal of learning the prayer and reading it over the PA system herself. She achieved that goal, and in doing so, inspired other students to participate. Over the years, the prayer has continued to grow stronger within our schools. Students began practicing it during recess and proudly sharing the Seven Sacred Teachings while learning their morals and values.

Although the original author is unknown, we do know that Helen Sylliboy translated the prayer into Mi’kmaw. This prayer continues to inspire students, communities, and all those who are learning about our Mi’kmaw language and culture.

Wela’lioq,

Doris Ann Googoo

Written and Translated by Helen Sylliboy

Kisu’lk wela’liek wjit wla Na’kwek kisi Iknmuiek.
Creator, Thank you for this day you have given us.

Wela’liek wjit wla kis tli Mawita’nen, aq etamulek piskwa’n ta’n eymek, klaman kis tliatew ta’n tel mnueken.
Thank you for allowing us to gather here today and we ask you to enter where we are, so that your teachings will work in us.

Iknmuinen Nsituoqn, klaman kjijitutesnen ta’n koqoey Kelu’k wla wksitqamu’k. Iknmuinen Ksaltultinen klaman kisi siawa’tesnen ksalsuti msit tamiaw.
We as for wisdom, so that we will know what is good in this world. We ask for love, so we can spread your love everywhere.

Iknmuinen Ksaltultinen klaman kisi siawa’tesnen ksalsuti msit tamiaw. Iknmuinen Mlkitelsultinen, klaman ma’ wen nutajite’lsik lukwatmn wla tett.
We ask for respect, so that we will know that everyone comes from one place… from you. We ask for bravery, so that we will not be afraid to do your work here.

Iknmuinen menaqajewo’ltinen, klaman ma’ wen ewlek kisna ewla’lat wen kikmanaq. Iknmuinen Penoqite’lsultinen, klaman ma’ wen kisi aji espite’lsik aq wikma’jl.
We ask for honesty, so that no one will lie or harm any one of us. We ask for humility, so that no one will be superior to another.

Aq Niskam, Iknmuinen Ketleweyuti klaman waqme’ktital Nkamulamunal aq njijaqmijinaq ta’n tujiw nmu’lek elmi’knik.
And Creator, we ask for truth, so that we will see you in the future, on the last day, with clean hearts and spirits.

Na tliaj
Amen