Appendix 1

Needs Assessment

Objective: To assess the state of the Mi'kmaw language in the First Nation communities in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland.

Part 1: The first part of this questionnaire asks about the extent the Mi'kmaw language is being used in each household, who the speakers and non-speakers are, age of the speakers or non-speakers, etc.

1.     How many are in your household in specific age groups?

 A.  How many males? B.  How many female?
  0-4 years old _______  0-4 years old _______
  5-12 years old _______  5-12 years old _______
  13-19 "       " _______  13-19 "        " _______
  20-39 "       " _______  20-39 "        " _______
  40-59 "       " _______  40-59 "        " _______
  60+ _______  60+ _______


2.     What language is spoken most often at home?

 Mi'kmaw _______
 English _______
 Combination of Mi'kmaw/English _______
 Other _______


3.     How may speak Mi'kmaw in your household in the following categories?

 A.  How many males? B.  How many female?
  0-4 years old _______  0-4 years old _______
  5-12 years old _______  5-12 years old _______
  13-19 "       " _______  13-19 "        " _______
  20-39 "       " _______  20-39 "        " _______
  40-59 "       " _______  40-59 "        " _______
  60+ _______  60+ _______


4.     How may in your household understand Mi'kmaw but do not speak Mi'kmaw?

 A.  How many males? B.  How many female?
  0-4 years old _______  0-4 years old _______
  5-12 years old _______  5-12 years old _______
  13-19 "       " _______  13-19 "        " _______
  20-39 "       " _______  20-39 "        " _______
  40-59 "       " _______  40-59 "        " _______
  60+ _______  60+ _______
 
5.     If Mi'kmaw is not spoken in your household, what in your opinion is the main cause?
 Check appropriate response/s:
 a. Never heard Mi'kmaw spoken at home _______
 b. Grand/parents or yourself attended Residential School _______
 c. Children attended non-native schools in your area _______
 d. Only way to succeed in school was to speak English _______
 e. Brought in by a family member from the U.S. _______
 f. Neighbours speak English _______
 g. Too much English on TV _______
 h. Knows the language but afraid to make mistakes _______
 i. One of the parents was non-native _______
 j. Babysitter was English speaking _______
 k. Other, please specify ___________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________


6.     Can anyone in your household read Mi'kmaw?

 Yes _______ Who? _______ What is their age  _______
 No _______
 
7.     Can anyone in your household write Mi'kmaw?
 Yes _______ Who? _______ What is their age  _______
 No _______
8.     Have you or any member of your family taken any courses in the Mi'kmaw language?
 Yes _______ (indicate who, ie. Child, etc.) ____________________________________
 No _______ (Go to 9c)
9a.     What type of course did you or the member of your family take?
 a. University linguistics course _______
 b. University credit course _______
 c. Adult education corse _______
 d. High school credit _______
 e. Junior high course _______
 f. Elementary course _______
 g. Day care _______


9b.     How long was the course? _______ years

   _______ weeks
   _______ days
   _______ nights
   _______ workshop/seminar
 
9c.     Which of the following Mi'kmaw courses would you or a family member take if they were offered in your area?
 a. Mi'kmaw Reading and Writing _______
 b. Mi'kmaw Linguistics  _______
 c. Mi'kmaw Verbs  _______
 d. Mi'kmaw Grammar  _______
 e. Conversational for Speakers  _______
 f. Other (please specify) __________________________________________________


9d.     If none of the above, can you suggest the type of Mi'kmaw language course you would be interested in?

________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________

Part 2

      Culture and language are inseparable.  Many of our Mi'kmaw cultural activities in the past and present involved using the Mi'kmaw language.

10a.     Have you or a member of your family every attended St. Ann's Mission at Chapel Island, Merigomish or your community?

 _______ yes
 _______  no (Go to 11)
 
10b.     Did you use the Mi'kmaw language while engaged in this cultural activity?
 _______ yes
 _______ no


10c.     If yes, what percentage of Mi'kmaw did you and your family use at this event?
 

 _______ 25%
 _______ 50%
 _______ 75%
 _______ 100 %
11.     Other cultural activities that you may have been involved in?
 Check where applicable:
   Mi'kmaw
 Activity    yes     used
hunting  _______ _______
barrel making  _______ _______
axe handles  _______ _______
regalia making _______ _______
flower making _______ _______
clothes poles  _______ _______
wood cutting  _______ _______
pulp/props cutting _______ _______
potato picking _______ _______
planting  _______ _______
farming  _______ _______
cleaning  _______ _______
fishing with a rod _______ _______
spearing fish  _______ _______
netting fish  _______ _______
blueberry picking _______ _______
arts and crafts  _______ _______
Pow wow  _______ _______
canoe making  _______ _______
other (specify) ___________________ _______ _______


12.     Are you aware of the number of books and/or materials in Mi'kmaw that are available by the following:

      Yes     No
 a. Mi'kmaw Centre of Excellence _______ _______
 b. Native Council _______ _______
 c. UCCB Resource Centre _______ _______
 d. Mi'kmaw-Maliseet News _______ _______
 e. Old prayer books _______ _______
 f. From other reserves _______ _______


13.     Do you think teaching young children Mi'kmaw in the school and in the home is important in keeping the Mi'kmaw language from becoming extinct?  Why or why not?

 ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________
 ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________
14.     What do you recommend could be done either by school or your community to improve the usage of the usage of the Mi'kmaw language among our children.
 

         a. What could be done by your local school? ____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
         b. What can be cone by your community? __________________________________________________________________  _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
15.     Other comments you may want to make regarding the revitalization of the Mi'kmaw language:   ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________

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