A Critical Review of The Míkmaw Concordat by James Henderson

In a growing body of literature that is working to decolonize history and reframe it to include the Aboriginal perspective and experience, The Míkmaw Concordat (1997), provides an important insight into an aspect of Mi’kmaq history not widely discussed. While the negative effects of European religion on Aboriginal cultures is widely discussed and documented, this text reconstructs a unique relationship formed between the Mi’kmaq of Atlantic Canada and Catholicism in the early seventeenth century. In 1610 a Concordat alliance was cemented between Mikmáki and the Holy See, and alliance based on mutual benefit and sovereignty.

The books author, James (Sákéj) Youngblood Henderson came to write this book as a result of living with his wife, Marie Battiste (a celebrated Mi’kmaw scholar and educator) in her Mi’kmaq community of Eskasoni (10). It was the community of Eskasoni that compelled Henderson to compile their histories in a form that would not disrupt the Mi’kmaq worldviews, culture and spirituality they represent but as well easily conveyable to non-Aboriginal peoples.

The books intent is to challenge written histories and to reinterpret early Mi’kmaq-French relations, particularly religious history among the Mi’kmaq. Using both Mi’kmaq and Euro history/knowledge to do so. Through the revitalization of Mi’kmaq histories, culture, and spirituality the text both bridges non-Aboriginal peoples to new understandings of Canadian history, as well as bridging Mi’kmaq youth to their elders and culture (11).

In compiling this text, Henderson uses the stories and histories gathered from Mi’kmaq families and elders, blending them with European documentation of the events and peoples discussed which have been critically analyzed us...

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...the stories and history within Mi’kmaq worldviews and in validating the continued significance and importance of the language to the Mi’kmaq.

Though Henderson was very thorough, it is doubtful that this text would be easily accessible to those who are not academics or do not have a prior knowledge of Mi’kmaq/Aboriginal history. From another perspective however, this text may leave readers with questions that they will be compelled to read more to find out. Regardless as a whole I enjoyed reading this text. It extended my knowledge on an area of Mi’kmaq history, spirituality I was not previously aware of. The text was well written and laid out which allowed me to delve deeper into the complexities of Aboriginal and settler relations during this time period, as well as the worldviews which governed both the Aboriginal/Mi’kmaq and European relations and decisions.