For hundreds of years the Micmacs were nomads. A nomad is a person who does not stay in one place. The Micmacs were nomads because they needed to follow the fish along the seashore for most of the year. In fact, it was the Micmacs who gave our river its name. They called it “Lustagoocheehk”. This means “goodly little river”. Later, the white man changed the name to “Miramichi” or “and of the Micmac”. Other small rivers near here also have Indian names. The Napan, the Kouchibouguac, and the Tabusintac are all Micmac, names.
In the winter months the Micmacs moved inland to the woods to hunt animals for food. It was also warmer in the woods.
The number of Micmacs was never very great. They had a simple way of life. They used fish and wild animals for food and clothing. They worked hard for their food, clothing, and homes. They had to be faster and stronger than the animals if they hoped to live long. Their close ties with nature are shown in how they told time. Days were numbered in “suns” and months were called “moons”.
The Micmacs found most of what they needed for life in nature’s forests. The forests of New Brunswick have many birch trees. The Indians used the bark from the birch trees to make many of the things they needed. The birch bark was used to make boats, homes, cooking pots, dishes, and baskets. Birch wood made great fires for their camps. Indian drums for their music and dances were also made of birch bark.
The forest gave the Micmacs many other things they needed. The roots of the trees were used for sewing. The small trees were used for smoking fish over the fires. Long forest grasses were used to make baskets. Bows and arrows were made from different trees of the forest. These bows and arrows were used to hunt wild animals. The bows and arrows were also used in Indian games of skill during the summer. Medicine was made from the bark of the forest trees. This medicine was believed to cure any sickness.