| Mi’kmaq heiroglyphics
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| Mi’kmaq heiroglyphics are believed to be the earliest form of writing system in North America. Their interest in the study of the pentagram is to one pictogram, “wa’so’q”, representing heaven. The source of this pentagram-shaped heiroglyphic is impossible to determine, but if it is in fact precolumbian, its similarity to the Sumarian UB is noteworthy. It’s usage can be seen in a common translation of the Christian Lord’s Prayer. The Mi’kmaq, a part of the Algonquin nation, are concentrated in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, with a presence in parts of Quebec, Newfoundland and Maine. Their original term for themselves was Lnu’k (or L’nu’k), meaning “the people”. “Mi’kmaq” comes from a word in their own language meaning “my friends”. Their heiroglyphics, once claimed to have been invented by Father Le Clercq, Missionary in Gaspe, Quebec (1675 to 1687),1 are generally believed to be precolumbian. According to Mi’kmaq oral tradition, the hieroglyphs were developed for inscribing maps and tribal records.2 Mi’kmaq is written alphabetically today, but in the past this unique script consisted of some 5,000 hieroglyphics. Mi’kmaq hieroglyphics do not resemble Ancient Egyptian or Mayan hieroglyphs; are not linguistically related to Ancient Egyptian nor any other semitic languages; are entirely native to the New World ; and are related to other major North American languages like Lenape, Ojibwe, and Cree.3 |
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1.  Souvenir d’un IIIe centenaire en pays Micmac. Sist gasgemtelnaganipongegeoei Migoitetemagani oigatigen. Souvenir of the Micmac tercentenary celebration. 1610-1910. Ste Anne de Ristigouche. Freres mineurs Capuchins. 1910. See Chrestien Le Clercq, (fl. 1641-1700). Nouvelle relation de la Gaspesie : qui contient les moeurs & la religion des sauvages gaspesiens Porte-Croix, adorateurs du soleil, & d’autres peuples de l’Amerique septentrionale, dite le Canada : dedibee a Madame la princesse d’Epinoy / par le Pere Chrestien Le Clercq. A Paris : Chez Amable Auroy, De l’imprimerie de Laurent Rondet, 1691. [28], 572 p. and Etablissement de la foy dans la Nouvelle France : contenant l’histoire des colonies franpcoises, & des dbecouvertes, qui s’y sont faites jusques aa prbesent : avec une relation exacte des expeditions & voyages entrepris pour la dbecouverte du fleuve Mississippi jusques au golfe de Mexique; par ordre du roy; sous la conduite du sieur de la Salle, & de ses diverses avantures jusques. — A Paris : Chez Amable Auroy … , 1691. English trans. by Douay, Anastase. [First establishment of the faith in New France, trans. John Gilmary Shea. New York, J. G. Shea, 1881 [New York : AMS Press, 1973]. 2 v. : illus. ; 23 cm.2. Mi’kmaq Hieroglyphics, Murdena Marshall [professor at the University College of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia] and David Schmidt.3. Also see www.native-languages.org; www.kinu.ns.ca; www.booth.k12.nf.ca. |