Kjipuktuk (Halifax) – The Halifax Media Co-op is pleased to announce the launch of ‘Pjilasi Mi’kma’ki’ (Welcome to Mi’kma’ki), a new podcast series produced and hosted by Mi’kmaw people, for Mi’kmaw people, in both Mi’kmaq and English. Annie Clair, band member from Elsipogtog First Nation, is the host of the inaugural episode, which deals with the ‘Sixties Scoop’ and the loss of language and culture.
“We are so pleased to be able to assist Annie Clair in this endeavour,” says Miles Howe, editor with the Halifax Media Co-op. “One of the mandates of the Media Co-op is to help train folks from various communities to gain reporting and journalistic skills. Helping Annie receive the training she needed to get this project running is a great example of this.”
There are an estimated 30,000 Mi’kmaq, the original peoples of the Maritimes, in the Atlantic provinces. At the moment, they are vastly under-served by any current affairs programming in their own language.
“I want my people to regain their language,” says host Annie Clair. “Speaking our language is key to being able to reconnect with our culture and identity.”
Pjilasi Mikmaki is live now. (https://pjilasimikmaki.wordpress.com/) Please enjoy a listen to this important first episode.