Micmac Prayer Book

• Format: Manuscript
• Language: Mi-kmaq; English; French
• Published: 1810
• Subjects: Catholic Church > Prayers and devotions > Micmac > Texts; Catholic Church > Liturgy > Texts; Catholic Church > Catechisms > Micmac > Texts; Micmac language > Writing; Hieroglyphics; Newfoundland; Newfoundland studies
• Online Access: http://collections.mun.ca/cdm/ref/collection/prayerbook/id/245

This manuscript is an early 19th Century Newfoundland Micmac prayer book containing hymns, prayers and other religious texts for use in divine worship according to Roman Catholic observance. The majority of the text is written in a hieroglyphic script which is unique to the Micmac tradition. There are also a number of annotations in the Micmac language. The manuscript consists of sewn pages bound with caribou hide encased boards. The pages are made with good quality paper. The text is mostly written in pen and ink, with some pencil as well. On title frame of microfilm: ca. 1810-1812. The manuscript has a leaf with a crown and shield watermark design and the date 1807, as well as a handwritten entry dated 1812; the latest date noted is 1892. The papermaker's name appears as J. Jellyman [located in Salisbury, Dowton, Wiltshire, England] 1807. There are also numerous notations and additions, some apparently quite recent. Cataloguer's title.