19th-Century Mi'kmaq Prayer Book Returns to Conne River, Newfoundland

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CCI Newsletter, No. 26, November 2000

19th-Century Mi'kmaq Prayer Book Returns to Conne River, Newfoundland

by Martin Howley1 and Gerald Penney2

Photo: Martin Howley

Figure 1 Celebrating the return of the Mi'kmaq prayer book (from left to right): Richard Ellis, Saqamaw Misel Joe, David Hanington, Gerald Penney, and Geraldine Caul nee Jeddore (representing a prominent Mi'kmaq family in the community).

On June 2, 2000, the Queen Elizabeth II Library of Memorial University of Newfoundland (in St. John's, NF) was privileged to host a celebration for the return of a priceless Mi'kmaq prayer and hymn book.3  Written in a hieroglyphic script unique to the Mi'kmaq, prayer books such as this one had helped to preserve the Roman Catholic faith of the Mi'kmaq during the centuries when they were deprived of the regular attendance of priests. Very few early examples still exist.

The evening's celebration featured presentations by paper conservator David Hanington (of CCI) and the book's owner Saqamaw Misel Joe (of the Miawpukek First Nation, Conne River). During introductory remarks, Memorial University Librarian Richard Ellis noted how the prayer book must have represented something different to each of the individuals who had handled it.

Mr. Hanington's presentation exemplified this. He related how treatment options had been broadened when Helen Sylliboy (an expert on Mi'kmaq hieroglyphics from Eskasoni, NS) impressed on him her awe of the book's spiritual significance, and suggested an option of  'no treatment'. The Miawpukek Band was subsequently consulted and, although they shared some of Ms. Sylliboy's misgivings, opted for full conservation treatment. The balance of Mr. Hanington's lecture included slides illustrating the actual treatment, and brought home to the rapt audience the extraordinary degree of technical expertise that had been required to restore the prayer book. Only recently in a sadly deteriorated condition, it was now an object of beauty.

Saqamaw Joe spoke of the significance of the prayer book to the Mi'kmaq people. He pointed out that the hieroglyphic script in which it is written harks back to a time when the traditional ways of the Mi'kmaq were still vital. As they struggle to revive these customs, it represents an important link to a way of life that has all but vanished. For generations the book itself has been regarded as an object imbued with spiritual power that could be called upon to cure sickness or ward off evil.

Saqamaw Joe ended his address by reciting a prayer to the Great Spirit in Mi'kmaq, and then presented Mr. Hanington with a stone arrowhead letter opener. This was followed by a stirring impromptu solo rendition of the Honour Song of the Mi'kmaq by musician Paul Pike, accompanying himself on a hide drum. The proceedings closed with a reception at which the prayer book was displayed for the last time before its departure for Conne River the following day.

At Conne River, Mr. Hanington made a presentation to an audience of school children, teachers, community members, and Band councillors at St. Ann's all-grade school. The entire school body were in awe as they viewed the restored book.

The prayer book is now in the care of Saqamaw Joe. Until the construction of a reserve museum, it will be publicly displayed at Conne River within the Band's administrative building.

  1. Martin Howley is Humanities Librarian at Memorial University of Newfoundland.

  2. Gerald Penney is a consulting archaeologist with a 20-year involvement with the Miawpukek Band. He can be reached at:
      Gerald Penney
      Rare Books and Maps of Newfoundland & Labrador
      P.O. Box 428
      St. John's NF   A1C 5K4
      tel.: (709) 739-7227
      fax: (709) 739-7277
      e-mail: gpaltd@nlnet.nf.ca

  3. The prayer book had been at CCI in Ottawa for extensive conservation and restoration; see CCI Newsletter No. 25 (May 2000), pp. 1–3, for a more complete account of this treatment.