More About Joe
Joe Michael, also known as “Joe Mike”, is a respected Mi’kmaw Elder from Sipekne’katik First Nation, Nova Scotia. With over five decades of experience, he has dedicated his life to preserving and sharing Mi’kmaw culture, language, and traditions. He is the founder of Jiksutui and Caleb’s Lodge, spaces devoted to land-based learning, ceremony, and cultural revitalization. His work bridges Traditional Knowledge with contemporary practices, offering immersive experiences rooted in Mi’kmaw teachings.
Joe’s expertise encompasses a wide range of traditional practices, including prayers and ceremonies, storytelling, and the crafting of tools and talking sticks for healing. He is a fluent Mi’kmaw language speaker and offers cultural education and reconciliation training. His land-based knowledge includes hunting, trapping, fishing, medicine gathering, and guiding.He also conducts workshops on land-based skills, emphasizing the importance of connecting with nature through traditional practices.
Joe is also an accomplished artist, designer, performer, and writer. His book, The Spirits Walk Among Us, reflects his deep spiritual insights and commitment to cultural preservation. His commitment to Indigenous knowledge is evident in his teachings on Mi’kmaw numeracy, engineering, and math, as well as his efforts in land and water guardianship and sustainable practices.
“I gained my knowledge from my Elders. I started in 1971. Over this long period of time, I was encouraged to learn about and protect our ways and ceremonies.” – Joe
Prayers and Ceremony | Storytelling: I tell stories from Mi’kmaw culture and traditions. | Traditional Skills | Treaty Knowledge / Historian: I carry knowledge about Mi’kmaw history.
Mi’kmaw Language Speaker | Cultural Education / Reconciliation Training / Consulting Services: I provide training and workshops about the Mi’kmaq
Hunt | Trap | Fish | Medicine | Harvest | Guide | Land-Based Skills Workshops
Artist / Crafter: I make tools and talking sticks for healing. | Designer | Performer: I can act / role play, drum, and play the flute | Writer: I wrote a book – The Spirits Walk Among Us
Mi’kmaw Numeracy, Engineering, & Math | Traditional Ecological Knowledge | Land and Water Guardianship: I am involved in ceremonies for the salmon, which are endangered. | Sustainable Practices & Conservation
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