LIST OF MICMAC NAMES

OF

PLACES, , ETC, IN

Compiled by

ELIZABETH FRAME. tDOUQLAS UfeRARy

queeN's UNiveRSiry AT KiNQSCON Presented by L.MAC KAY SMITH ESTATE April 1983 kiNQSTON ONTARIO

The EDITH and LORNE PIERCE COLLECTION o/CANADIANA

Queen's University at Kingston LIST OF MICMAC NAMES

OF

PLACES, RIVERS, ETC, IN NOVA SCOTIA.

Compiled by

ELIZABETH FRAME.

CAMBRIDGE: JOHN WILSON AND SON.

©ntbersttg iftoss.

1892. Digitized by the Internet Archive

in 2013

http://archive.org/details/listofmicmacnamOOfram NOTE.

The following list of Micmac names of places, rivers, etc., in Nova Scotia and neighborhood was compiled, at my request, by Miss Elizabeth Frame, of Shubenacadie, for the library of the Massachusetts Historical Society, and was duly presented at the meeting on June 9, 1892. She was aided in her labors by a Micmac Indian, as well as by the published works of Mr. Gesner and Dr. Rand. It is now printed at the expense of a gentleman of Cambridge, who is interested in Indian philology.

S. A. G. Boston, August 20, 1892.

;; ; ;

The Micmac left no sculptured gods, No temples made of stone; In misty caves, in storm-tossed clouds, Manitou dwelt alone.

But names remain on hill and plain Of this once powerful race, And in those liquid Micmac words Their presence yet we trace

Where Aspatogon lifts her brow, Unblushing, to the sea; Where crashing ice-cakes dash and break On lonely Scatarie

Where turbid waters seethe and foam Round Glooscap, Chebooktook

On Tusket's Isles where sea-gulls rest, And heron on Panuke

The rushing tides in Pesiquid, And Shubenacadie The level meads of Tantramar; The falls of Konomee.

No Micmac now on Hunts moose or caribou; And alien races change the names Which first were named by you. E. F. SOUND OF LETTERS IN MICMAC.

The consonants are sounded as in English:, g is always hard,

as in and exactly like ch as in ; follow- goy egg, c k; church h ing a vowel in the same syllable (as in ahk) is a soft guttural,

like the German ch in Ich. There is no / in Micmac ; when at- tempting to pronounce French or English words which contain

this letter, the Indians give it the sound of b ov p.

The vowels are sounded thus: a, as in father ; a, as in fate;

a, as in fat; a, as the second a in abaft; e, as in me; 6 as in

met; ei, as i in. pine; 1, as i in pin; o, as in no; 6 as in not; u, as

in tube, use; ii, as in tub; oo, as in fool, move; 66 as in good,

wood; ow, as in now. When any vowel is doubled, as aa, aa, ee,

5, the usual sound is prolonged, and takes the accent, but the

place for the accent is the penult. 'M or 'N at the beginning of

a word with the accent marked, is sounded without a vowel. The following are examples of the peculiarity termed " holo-

phrastic," where a single word stands for a sentence : — Boon, the sitting place, the cross-piece on which the pad-

dler sits. Bodsenech, let us take a trip by water, let us go in a canoe. EpkwSse, I have a shelter from the rain over my head. Kamatk, bushes yonder, beyond a cleared place.

NSspe, to be stopping in the wigwam to take care of it, while the others are away.

New6pskitk, the bed of the is dry, and the rocks are bare. W6pk, the morning light, — "the opening of the eye of the morning." ; ;

LIST OF MICMAC NAMES

OF

PLACES, RIVERS, ETC.

Ababe, a boundary. Banooopskek, opening out through Abaktooe, the great auk. rocks, as Penobscot. Abe, a bow for an arrow. Banooskek, entrance into Bras d'Or Agamok, white ash. Lake. Agoomakiin, Apple River, Cum- Banoskek, a water passage between berland County. two lakes. Agoomakuniik, Sand River, Cum- Ba'pkokte'k, Argyle. berland County. Bapkook, the birch bark will ea- Ah-mah-gops-ke-geek, tumbling sily peel.

over rocks ; Tangier River. Baslooaakade, St. Peter's Island, Ajeok'chemin, a blackberry. near Prince Edward Island. Akkada, abundance of things Bookt, the head of a bay.

plenty of ground-nuts ; hence Booktawi'chk, rum, from

Acadie (French). Booktaoo, fire ; hence fire-water Akum, a snow-shoe, raquette. alcohol.

Amlamekw', a mackerel. Booktoulaygun, fireworks ; Toney Anesaak, Salmon River. River. Ansaakw, New Harbor. Booktowaagiin, Mill Creek on the Apcheeclikumoochwaakade, in Cumberland Co. Duck land. Hence the French BoonamookwSde, Salmon River, name . Yarmouth. ApsiboogwSchk', Port le Bear. BSstoon, America. Aseedik, Lunenburg. Bostoonkawaach, an American. Asooemanokse, a creeping black- Bostoonkawoolkw, an American berry vine. vessel. Aspatogon, a headland on the Brooksake, Charlottetown Harbor, Atlantic. Prince Edward Island.

Baktaba', a bay. Cajj-booginek, winding through

Banook, the first lake as you ascend the wilderness ; . a river. Caluget, Carraget Harbor. ;; : : ;

LIST OF MICMAC NAMES OF PLACES, RIVERS, ETC

Cansoke, facing the frowning cliff; Inskooom&deedich, Lakeland, N.S. Canso. Caskumpec, flowing through the Kabem, the border of a lake.

F>. Island. Port Hood. Band : Cascnmpec, P. KagweamkSk, Caydybunnygek, clam diggings Kakagwek, a place of dried meat Bool bland, Borton. now , in Hants Co. Chebookt, Halifax, from Okche- Kakw61eegigun, a snow-bank. bookt,the Largest harbor or bay. Kaleboo, caribou. Cheema, to paddle a canoe. Kaleboode, a shovel. Hence KalS- Chegaoo, bass, a fish. boo, caribou, the shoveller, be- Cheguniakiin, a rattle, an Indian cause they shovel up the snow tambourine. with- their broad feet in digging Chijikwtook', . down for the moss on which they Chikchowwegunechwa'-w6so- feed. wek', a rose. Katkoocb/ and Katkoolch', Brook- Chikchowwegiingjul, roseberries lyn, Queens Co., Nova Scotia. also the name of an orange. Keaskunoo'gwejit, a mighty chop- Ckipchowweeb/, a robin. per, a fabulous being who cuts trees you hear the chop- Cwesomallygeek, Hardwood down ; Ridge, Cumberland. ping, the workman is invisible, but the tree falls. Ebedek, Bedeque, P. E. Island. KSbamkeak', Bathurst, on the Bay Elmunakunckeech, Little Sevogal of Chaleur. River. Kebapskitk, the stream that con- Elsetkook', in Nova nects two lakes. Scotia. The six lakes on the Liverpool Emsuk, Port Jolli. River, as you go up stream

Eppayguit, anchored on the wave 1. Panook. ; Prince Edward Island. 2. Kedooskek'.

Eskumaaga, to eat raw flesh ; hence 3. Fushiigook'.

the name of the eskimo Indians, 4. Kejimkoojik.

eaters of raw flesh. 5. Imutkaak.

Eskumiinaak', Mount Skumunak. 6. Toobeadoogook. Eskumiinaak, Point Skimenack, in Lakes on Salmon River, east . of Halifax

Eskwodek', Murray Harbor, P.E. I. 1. Usoogomusoogwgdamk'. Espakiimegek, high land. Green 2. Milpaachk. Hill, County. 3. Utkoskwaachk.

4. Kloocheowpaach.

Gaspe^ch, Gaspe ; far into the wa- 5. Ngmchenokpaachk.

ter. 6. Noogoomkiibaak. Glooscap, a manitou who dwelt in 7. Mtabes-waakade (where the Bay of Pundy, at Blomidon. mud-catfish abound).

Goolwag<5pskooch, Port George. On Port Medway River are :

Gul-wahgahgek, the home of the 1. Banook. sea-cow Quaco, New Brunswick. 2. M&ligeak'. ; LIST OF MICMAC NAMES OF PLACES, RIVERS, ETC. 9

Kebbek, narrows Quebec. 1 a place of eagles, ; Kitpoo-aykaddy, Kegumoosk, Little River, a branch near the river Shubenacadie, now of the Restigouche. known as the Eagles' Nest. Kekwajoo, a badger. Kloopskeaakade, Bird Island. Kenomee, Sandy Point, now Econ- Kobet, a beaver. omy, in County. Kobetek', Aylesford Bog. Kesapskul, Apesookaam Lake. Koo'koogwes', an owl. Kesegoo, an aged man. Kookumijenagwanak', Cape Dol- Kesegooaakw, an aged porpoise or phin. seal. Koolpesoo'n, an anchor. Kesegoo'e, an aged bird. Koolpijooik, Petpiswick Harbor. Kesegooeeskw, an aged woman. Koospem, a lake. Kesegook, an aged porcupine. Kow-week, porcupine quills. Kesegoo'msk, an aged beaver. Ktadoosok, Saguenay River. Kesegoo'siim, an aged dog. Kiilokwejook, Mary Joseph, below Kesegoo'tkw, an aged cow, moose, Halifax. horse. Kurumooejeman6kse, bilberry. Keskaak, the wood is broad. KwebSk, the head of the tide, now Kgskoospaak, Little River. Bedford.

KSskutkwek', the river is broad.- Kwemoodeech, Pope's Harbor. Kesokudek', the neighborhood of Kwesomalegek', a hard-wood Archibald's Mills at Truro. Point, now Fort Lawrence.

Kesooskow8stoogwek' f Middle Kwesow-waak, a cape of land. River, Pictou. Kesooskw5stoogwek, Little Riv- Logumkeegun, Shelburne. er, a branch of Sheet Harbor Luntook', deer. River. Liiskuch, Manadoo in Cape Breton. Kespabegea'chk, Big Kespebae- Lustegooch, . dak'. Keespoogwitk, Land's End, Yar- mouth. Maakan, Maccan River in Cumber- Kikcheboogwek, Cavendish, land County. Prince Edward Island. Mabou, a river in Cape Breton. Kitpoo, an eagle. Madawaak, a point where two riv- Kitpooaakade, Cape Shubenacadie. ers come together.

1 This is beyond question the origin of the name of the city of Quebec. The French pronounce Quebec not kwe-bek, as the English do, but keb-b§k, the exact pronunciation of the Indian word. The " Narrows," above Halifax Harbor, and a narrow place in the Liverpool River just below Milton, are thus named by the Indians. The syllable kgb or k£p, which is the same exactly in meaning, means to stop or impede, to choke up, etc. Many words begin with this syllable ; as, kebejokiim, to stop a hole; kebejokteskum, to shut a door; kebadagwa',

to be hoarse, to have the voice impeded ; kebaadoo, to stanch blood ; kebap- skitk, the stream is obstructed by rocks ; kebamkoogwek, the mouth of the

river is obstructed by sand thrown in by the waves ; kgbe-skoonei, my nose is

stopped ; etc. ;

10 1.1 sr OF Ml CM AC NAMES OF PLACES, RIVERS, ETC.

Mag&pskegechk', tumbling- over Mooinei', a bear-skin. targe rocks; Gaspereaux River, Moosegisk', the atmosphere. in Borton, King's County. Mootpoon, an animal's bed. Majedktfcliguri Lutkaamiin, an Mpogiin, a bed. arrow. Misookweel, the bark for building

Makpaak, Malpeque, in P. E. I. a canoe. Makpaachk, first and second lakes 'Mtaban', mud bridge; , on Moses River. Nova Scotia. Malipkanch', a hazel-nut. Mtae, a beaver-skin. Maskwe, general name for bark. Mtoodook, Little River, Mira, Maycobegilk, end of the flowing Cape Breton. (meaning the bound of the rush- M&nagSsiinook', the Magdalen ing water, the tide or bore) Islands. Cobequid, Truro, now Salmon Mtina'pskw, a ledge of rocks.

River. Mttndoo, Satan. This is the Algon-

Megamaage, Nova Scotia ; land of kin name for the Great Spirit, the Micmacs. but applied to the devil by the Mggwa jijik, the Red Indians of first Christian missionaries. Newfoundland. Miindooapskw, Devil's Rock, now Megwas-a', Belfast in P. E. Island. Jeddore Rock. Memkaak-kwSsawa', Pandora Muneskoochk', Muddy Creek, Point. Prince Edward Island. Menagwes', St. John, N. B. MiinkwSn', the rainbow. Menichk. a berry. Musquodoboit, sparkling water, a Menoody, a bay; Minudie, Cum- river in Halifax County. berland County. Meowch', a puss, a cat. Nabtidagwgn'igun, a basket han- Mes-adSk, Long Island, Horton, dle. Nova Scotia. Naookteboogooik, big pond. Meseebakuniik', Sambro Cape. Napan, Napan in Cumberland Co. Mespaak, Cape Mispek. Napiiskwa', to string beads. Migoonaasit, the out-spreader; a Nebe, a leaf. peacock. Nebeltook', Bartibog, name of a Mijeogun, St. Lawrence River. place. Milasuk, Bridgeport. Negwek, Negwak Island. Milapskegechk, third lake on Mo- Nelegakunek, Newport River. sea River. Neliksaak, Arichat. Milchegaach, Meander River in Nemcheboogwek', Middle River, Newport, Hants County. Cape Breton. Mimkwokun, an acorn. Nemtakayak', Nemtage River. Mimkwonmoose, the oak. Nepigiguit, on Chaleur Bay. Misegumisk', Scraggy Lake. Neseamk', Sable River, Nova Mistoogook, Mistouche River. Scotia.

Moinawa, bear's me Nictahk, forks ; Nictau.

Moo-aumook, he is from home. Noel, where the ice-cakes float

Mooin, a bear. loosely. LIST OF MICMAC NAMES OF PLACES, RIVERS, ETC. 11

Noogoomkeak', Moses River. Pogilmkek', Pomket Harbor. Noos-abon, the river Noosaboon. Ponhook, the first lake in a chain. 'Ntooa'gwakiin, Lot 49, Prince Poogunikpe'chk, Pictou Harbor. Edward Island. Pookudapskwode, Cape Porcu- 'Ntiibloo, an army. pine, on the Strait of Canso. Pootaleawa', a basket. OgomkigeSk', Liverpool River, Pugooopskook, Owl's Head in Nova Scotia. Hants County. Oochaadooch, 's Piilamoo, salmon. mouth, Cape Breton. Piilowecha Miiwego, Partridge Oochogiim, a point covered with Island. oak. Piilow-wech, a partridge. Oolastook, St. John River, New Brunswick. Saa-gaa-bun, the Micmac potato. Oonban, a moose's bed. Saa-gaa-bun-akady, the place Oonegiin, portage. where the Micmac potato grows Oonikskwomkook, Point Miskwe. (Shubenacadie).

Owoolakiimooejit, Famine, figu- Sakpulkweak, there is wet snow ratively represented as an evil and ice there. being. Sasageem, a bare foot. Oww5kiin, Portage River, Mira- Sasoo Goole, Jesus Christ. machi, New Brunswick. Sebiskadakuncheech, Miscou Gully, Cape Breton. Paakwaak, stop here, you cannot Seboo, a river.

go any further ; Pockwock Lake. Sebunisk', Lockport, Nova Scotia. Pajedoobaachk, Oyster Pond. Segubunakade, Shubenacadie. Falamooa' Seboo, Salmon River, Sesetkook, Cliezetcook. Truro. Sesip or Sesipcheech', a bird. Paspege'ak, Paspebeek, Prospect. Ses-mogiin, sugar.

PedeadSk, ignis fatuus. Sigiinikt' , Chignecto. Pege, a side of meat, including all Simkook, Petite River in Lunen- the ribs. burg. Pgmamkeak', Sand Island, Mira- Skiidakiimoochooowte, Milky T machi. A\ ay ; the spirits' road. Pentagouet, a river in New Bruns- , where the fresh water

wick. joins the salt ; a river in Colches- Pessyquid, flowing squarely into ter County.

the sea ; in Windsor, SumskweV, Pumpkin Island. Hants County. Siiiiow', sugar maple. Petkootkweak', Peticodiac River.

Petoobok, Bras d'Or Lake in Cape Tabooetooetun, Rustico, P. E. I. Breton. Taooopskik, the river runs out be- Pijenooiskak, La Have River. tween rocks. Hence the name of Piktook, Pictou. the , Taooopskik. Piktoo'juk, Martin's River, Col- Tawitk, Petite Passage, N. S. chester, Nova Scotia. Team, a moose. ;

12 LIST OF Ml CM AC NAMES OP PLACES, RIVERS, ETC.

Tesogw6de. Pirate's Cove, on Tan- Weijooik, Sheet Harbor. so Strait. Weiopsk, a bead. Hants Tooetfmook , Avon River, Weisis, a beast. County. Wgjowtik, Point Prim. Tiilugadik, Grand Lake, Halifax Weukiich', Margaree River, Cape County. Breton. Wisktisok, Milpagech', N6nasa- kiinek', and Pedawikpaak are Ukcheseeboo, a large river. Tangier Lakes. Uktaknmkook', Newfoundland. "Wisunawbn, Gay's River, in Hali- Ukwtakun, starvation; in the In- fax County. dian legends represented as a W&baboookchiik, white waters, quasi demigod, whose howling Elm Tree River. and approach indicate death and W8beakade, literally Swan land, destruction. now Broad River Lake. Ulgedoo. a mushroom. Wojeechk, Pereaux in Cornwallis. Ulgedook', Tort Medway. Wokuloopskuso-w', Marble Head. Ulnoo. a man, as distinguished W6k\imeak', Nine-Mile River in from all other animals. Hants County. Ulnooe, to be a man, an Indian. Wokumiitkook, Middle River, Ulnoojech, the eyeball, the little Nova Scotia. Indian, manikin. W81iimkwaka'giinTichk, Port Umkoome, ice. Mulgrave. Upkoo, gum. W61unkak', Beaver Harbor. Upkwaweegan', Oak Point in W5npaak, Cole Harbor. Cornwallis. W6setumoo§k, Newel River. Upskamkook, Petite River in Wdsokseggk', Martin's Point, near Hants County. Londonderry, , Utkubok, Cliebogue. on River. WSs6gwesoo-gw&de, Petite in Wagobagitk', literally, the bay Hants County, on the bay. runs far up; hence Cobequid. W6spegeak', Shoal Bay. WSchkwgmkeak', Mizzen Point. W6spooijiktook, among the seals Wedawelak', the rain patters on Herring Point, New Brunswick. the roof. Wegoon, a bean. Yap Team, a bull moose.

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