Mi'kmaq People Celebrate 400 Years of Catholicism

Alessia Domanico

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Happy 400^th Anniversary to the Mi’kmaq First Nations people. The Mi'kmaq peoples' annual St. Anne’s Mission took place in Cape Breton this weekend. St. Anne's Mission is one of the longest running annual assemblies in North America. They meet each year to celebrate their faith and promote their culture. This year was particularly special as it marked 400 years since the baptism of Mi’kmaq Chief Membertou’s in 1610.

The Mi’kmaq First Nations group is native to Canada’s Atlantic provinces. Cardinal Ouellet, the Primate of Canada and newly appointed Prefect to the Congregation of Bishops traveled to Chapel Island to help the Mi’kmaq celebrate the occasion. Chapel Island is located in Nova Scotia, on the southwest corner of the Bras d’or Lakes.

The Cardinal said he was honoured to help the Mi’kmaq celebrate. He called it a moment of friendship and reconciliation between the First Nations and the Canadian population. During his time there, Cardinal Ouellet celebrated Mass for 4,000 people and met with the Mi’kmaq Grand Council.

A member of the Mi’kmaq Grand Council said that Catholics around the world can learn from the Mi’kmaq’s long tradition of hospitality and acceptance.