Jonathan Grant

The Msit No’ kmaq project empowers high school students, bridging the past and present through genealogical inquiry. Working with a broad definition of family, students select one ancestor to research. They then develop a five-minute audio recording about the person based on what they learned. Students’ research is guided by an exploration of primary documents and databases — using oral storytelling, personal artifacts, family genealogy books, databases, and obituaries to make connections between their ancestors and historical events.

The project is rooted in Mi’kmaw philosophy, introducing students to four Mi’kmaw concepts: Msit No’kmaw, Netukulimk, Etuaptmumk, and the Seven Sacred Teachings. Students approach the project with the shared understanding that we are connected to all living things, the importance of being a good steward of the land, and that there is value in both Indigenous knowledge and colonial knowledge.

The project culminates in students listening to each other’s recordings and creating a brief reflection. This project shows the power of fostering student engagement through intentional research and reconciliation education.