image: 19th century encampment, Tuft’s Cove, Dartmouth, NS
A camera lucida is an optical device used as a drawing aid by artists. The camera lucida performs an optical superimposition of the subject being viewed upon the surface upon which the artist is drawing. The artist sees both scene and drawing surface simultaneously, as in a photographic double exposure. This allows the artist to duplicate key points of the scene on the drawing surface, thus aiding in the accurate rendering of perspective. . . . [producing] an inverted image which is right-left reversed when turned the right way up.
An occasional “column,” camera lucida[e] will be the “light chamber” of my wanderings.
The Mi’kmaq language (spelled and pronounced Micmac historically, also Migmaw or Mikmaw in English, and Míkmaq, Míkmaw or Mìgmao in Mi’kmaq) is an Eastern Algonquian language spoken by nearly 11,000 Mi’kmaq in Canada and the United States out of a total ethnic Mi’kmaq population of roughly 20,000. The word Mi’kmaq is a plural word meaning ‘my friends’ (singular mi’km); the adjectival form is Mi’kaw. The native name of the language is Lnuismk, Mi’kmawi’simk or Miꞌkmwei. Wikipedia
Cape Breton University’s Unama’ki College: “offers and environment that embraces the knowledge, wisdom and traditions of the Mi’kmaq. From faculty and staff that speak Mi’kmaw to academic courses delivered in Mi’kmaw communities, Unama’ki College has many offerings for Indigenous learners.”
“Parents come to me and say they hear their children in the backseat of the car speaking Mi’kmaq and they’re excited,” said a Miꞌkmaq language instructor at Lnu Si’puk Kina’muokuom Mi’kmaq school in Indian Brook. Wikipedia
Students building Mi’kmaw wigwam at Liverpool [Nova Scotia] school explores how the traditions and language of this First Nation are being carried on through the generations.
image: Joseph S. Rogers – Nova Scotia Archives & Records Management
Lorraine's frilly freudian slip 
May 29, 2019 at 11:40 am
fascinating — this makes me automatically think of a very close friend, from long ago — she was/is from N.B. and is Mi’kmaw — and it also makes me think of Johnny Harris (from Murdoch Mysteries, as constable George Crabtree) – and his own show, “Still Standing.” (don’t know if you’ve heard of it? – he travels all across Canada, visiting small towns, that, despite the economic odds and downturns, are still standing. – he’s a comedian, right – so the half-hour shows feature the humour and quirks about all these places, as well as showcasing the determination of the people etc. – so it’s both serious and often gut-splitting for the humour – and it’s just amazing – a great way to “see” the country) – anyhow, this reminds me of several shows he’s done out East, and how the Mi’kmaw are slowly “rebuilding” – there culture. As I’ve said, fascinating.
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June 1, 2019 at 9:52 pm
As I mentioned in a comment to a comment you left back awhile, I’m going to see if that show is on YouTube. One of the ways I get my Canada fix.
There is a real interest among the young Mi’kmaw to retain the language.
There is a fascinating installation in the Natural History Museum in Halifax. It’s about the forest. The text is in English, French and Mi’kmaw, and the video is in the three languages, too.
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June 2, 2019 at 8:39 am
I know that on of the Amazing Race Canada episodes, actually, several, in different seasons, I think, they had stopped and challenged on both coasts, and had aboriginal language challenges in their tasks, and it was fascinating— and I think one of them was definitely East coast, and maybe in — Halifax. Can’t remember for sure. I would hope that indigenous young people would want to retain and learn, and pass it along – seems to me, too often, especially when young, we under-value and consequently underestimate the beauty and importance of language as identity.
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June 4, 2019 at 4:08 am
There is a Canadian version of the Amazing Race? Sorry, I just can’t imagine . . .
And yes, language is culture is language. Self-definition. So, easy to lose one’s “self” when the words are gone. . .
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June 4, 2019 at 9:05 am
holy cow! YUP! And it’s FAR better and more challenging than the original – hosted by host Jon Montgomery —initially, in the first few years, they stayed within Canada – and then branched out to the rest of the world. But never as encompassing for the world traveling as the US version. Most of the show happens here, in our backyard – it’s absolutely brilliant! And the casting? Tends to be spectacular and very special. It’s really awesome.
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June 6, 2019 at 1:07 am
Another to add to my YouTube list. Also, gasp, might try a streaming service. So much out there!
It does sound, like Canada, something special.
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June 6, 2019 at 7:20 am
yeah, the earlier seasons have been super – and well, since we’re Canadian, how can I explain – there is just something “less flashy, plasticky” about it – well, you know what I mean. ;)
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