After 12,000 years of yesterdays : where will Debert be after 12 years of tomorrows? : the impact of Mi'kmawey Debert on the culture, economy, and environment of the Mi'kmaq

Abstract

Near Debert, in central Nova Scotia, lie 12,000-year old archaeological remains. Sophisticated hunters and tool makers utilized the resources of Mother Earth to care for their families in a land only sixty miles from glaciers.

A 1963 excavation uncovered 4,000 stone tools and eleven hearths. This Paleo-Indian, caribou-hunting camp was declared to be one of world-wide importance. The Mi'kmaq commissioned further research on the site and found an additional 1,500 artifacts in 1991.

The Confederacy of Mainland Mi'kmaq with a Mi'kmaw Elders' Advisory Council is creating a Cultural Centre to tell the story of the First People. Mi'kmawey Debert has the potential to provide many benefits to the Mi'kmaq and all Nova Scotians through healing, re-establishing culture and language, creating a major tourism generator, and providing employment and education.

Mi'kmawey Debert is a multi-faceted initiative that deserves the support required to make it a reality.