Micmac
PrintA language of Canada
8,040 in Canada (2011 census), decreasing. No monolinguals. 8,150 L1 speakers in Canada and the United States (Golla 2007). Population total all countries: 8,270. Ethnic population: 14,200 in Canada (1998 SIL). In Canada, 1,500 are in mainland Nova Scotia, 4,000 on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, 800 on Prince Edward Island and Lennox Island, 4,550 on the east coast of New Brunswick, 3,150 on the Gaspe Peninsula, Quebec, 200 in Newfoundland. 20,000 in both Canada and the United States (Golla 2007).
Central and north Nova Scotia. 6 major villages and 1 small village on mainland: Afton, Pictou, Truro, Shubenagadie, Bear River, and Yarmouth, some small communities; 5 major villages on Cape Breton Island: Memberto, Eskasoni, Chapel Island, Wakmatkug, Waikoqomaq. Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick east coast: Fort Folly, Big Cove, Indian Island, Burnt Church, Eel Ground, Red Bank, Pabino Falls, and Eel River Bar; Quebec, east Gaspe Peninsula, 3 villages: Gespe’q, Gesgapeqiaq, Listuguj; Newfoundland, at Conn River. Also in United States.
6b (Threatened).
Northern Micmac, Southern Micmac. Generally dialects are intelligible, but there are lexical, inflectional, word order, and spelling differences.
Some communities only older adults. Virtually extinct in 5 communities, 4 of which are in English areas (Shubenagadie, Truro, Eel River Bar, Pabineo Falls) and the 5th in French-speaking Gaspe, Quebec. In larger areas children tend to begin speaking some Micmac, except in Listuguj, where some families educate children in French. In communities such as Gesgapegiaq, use is more vigorous. Prayers, songs, readings. Mainly adults. Positive attitudes. In Gesgapegiaq many also use English [eng] or French [fra].
Christian, traditional religion.