We’koqma’q Cultural Gift Shop — her curated storefront of Mi’kmaw‑made crafts.
Workshops & Lessons — quill‑work kits and drum‑making lessons; medicine‑walks; leather‑craft; cultural teachings.
Online Presence: https://wekoqmaqculturalshop.ca/
Face Book: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566049527074
Eva Apukjij Keewesoo, sometimes known as Eva Nicholas, is a Mi’kmaw artisan, cultural curator, and educator based in We’koqma’q (Whycocomagh, Nova Scotia). As the curator‑manager of a Mi’kmaw cultural gift‑shop, she brings together the work of L’nu artists from her community and surrounding regions, supporting, uplifting, and promoting authentic Mi’kmaw craftsmanship.
Eva herself is an active maker: she builds and paints drums, assembles quill‑kits, works with leather, and offers free lessons and workshops, sharing skills rooted deeply in her heritage. Through her art, she carries forward traditions passed down from elders and ancestors and ensures that knowledge about land, water, medicine, and community continues to be shared openly (with respect when needed).
For Eva, every piece tells a story, of land and sky, fire and water, connection and identity. Her work reflects resilience, love, and the evolving story of the Mi’kmaw.
In 2022, Eva was the winner of the 2022 Creative Pitch and the Indigenous Tourism Canada $15,000 grant recipient by partnering with Skye River Trail, and embarking on the Longhouse Project – a symbol of Indigenous heritage, resilience, ceremony, and community. And in 2023, Eva was part of the Nova Scotia Residency at Asitu’lisk as an artist in residence for a week along with 3 other artists.
Eva embodies living Mi’kmaw culture — not as relic or tradition frozen in time, but as active, evolving, and essential to today’s communities. Through her dual role as maker and curator, she plays a vital part in preserving ancestral teachings, supporting other artists, and offering accessible ways for people to connect with authentic Mi’kmaw heritage.
Her commitment highlights an important principle: these traditions belong to all of us — but must be handled with respect, care, and responsibility. Eva’s work ensures that cultural expression remains strong, contemporary, and rooted.
“I am Wabanaki L’nu and it is my way of life. I love to reclaim our language and culture, it can mean medicine walks, gardening, harvesting, making drums, quillwork, baskets, beadwork , cooking, even ceremonies. The lists goes on and on. I love teaching and learning. I love art and culture in my life..” – Eva Apukjij Keewesoo
Prayers and Ceremony | Storytelling: Born a story teller, I love sharing stories especially about creation stories | Traditional Skills | Treaty Knowledge / Historian: I have some knowledge but not an expert on treaties, I do love learning history especially through our elders | Cultural Knowledge and Practices – Other: I am an arts and crafts curator and manager at Amkwesowaq Kisitutil that sells authentic traditional Mi’kmaw arts and crafts
Mi’kmaw Language Speaker: I was blessed to be raised by both parents, grandparents and family that all speak Mi’kmaq, I speak Mi’kmaq | Mi’kmaw Language Learner: Although I am fluent, there is always more to learn | Cultural Education / Reconciliation Training / Consulting Services: I completed the Indigenous Women in Community Leadership program at Coady Institute | Language and Education Other: I took part in MK’s Language program twice
Hunt: Took part in hunting but not an expert | Trap: some knowledge of trapping, raised by a trapper, family of trappers , not a trapper though | Fish: oysters, clams , trout | Medicine: sweetgrass, pagosi, bloodroot, golden root, teas from leaves, roots | Harvest: Birch Bark, Medicines, wild foods such as mushrooms, berries, oysters, apples,sweetgrass, wild sage, cedar etc , etc | Guide: I was a cultural intrepretor at Skye River Trail for 5 years | Land-Based Skills Workshops: Mostly medicine walks and harvesting medicines for tea or use of medicines | Land-Based Learning and Traditional Practices – Other: I am a certified butcher, I have butchering tools to break down a moose, I know how to process hide and leather
Artist / Crafter: I can process hide, make my own drums, paint them and teach workshops on assembling them. I can do the same with porcupine, I harvest and clean the quills, dye and have taught several workshops on how to quill | Designer: I have a little experience with website designing, took a website development course during the pandemic, however I have only applied these skills to developing my own website | Performer: Once in a while I will do a poetry reading, I have a few written poems published | Writer: I have helped write several grants to acquire funds to support cultural activities, ceremonies, etc | Artistic and Creative Expression – Other: I am an advocate and voice for our artists, help guide and connect them to what will help them elevate and succeed
Mi’kmaw Numeracy, Engineering, & Math: Porcupine Quilling is a great example of Mi’kmaw Numeracy and Engineering | Traditional Ecological Knowledge: Yes, lots | Land and Water Guardianship: We reclaimed Skye River Trail after it was threatened by corporates that wanted to frack, stood against them vigilantly until we won | Sustainable Practices & Conservation: I do not believe in over harvesting and to only take what is needed , I am well aware of the two eyed seeing principles and guides | Indigenous Science and Environmental Wisdom – Other: I love gardening, growing our own foods, harvesting, I am a certified butcher
Sport and Culture: Canoeing, Kayaking, Certified in Level 1 canoeing | Traditional Games and Activities: Mostly a fan of watching games but not participate, tried waltes, few blanket exercises, archery but no expert in any of these activities | Sports, Recreation, and Cultural Activities – Other: Certified to be a guide in Nova Scotia by completion requirements in Wilderness and Safety training, very intense rescue training
