Alternate Names: Mi’gmaq, Miigmao, Mi’kmaq, Restigouche
Dialects: Northern Micmac, Southern Micmac. Generally dialects are intelligible, but there are lexical, inflectional, word order, and spelling differences.
Genealogy:
Demographics: 8,040 in Canada (2011 census), decreasing. Population total all countries: 8,270. 0 monolinguals. Ethnic population: 14,200 (1998 SIL). 1,500 are in mainland Nova Scotia, 4,000 on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, 800 on Prince Edward Island and Lennox Island, 4,550 on the east coast of New Brunswick, 3,150 on the Gaspe Peninsula, Quebec, 200 in Newfoundland.
Language Use: Some communities only older adults. Virtually extinct in 5 communities, 4 of which are in English areas (Shubenagadie, Truro, Eel River Bar, Pabineo Falls) and the 5th in French-speaking Gaspe, Quebec. In larger areas children tend to begin speaking some Micmac, except in Listuguj, where some families educate children in French. In communities such as Gesgapegiaq, use is more vigorous. Prayers, songs, readings. Mainly adults. Positive attitudes. Also use English [eng], French [fra].
Language Development: Literacy rate in L1: 1%–17%. Literacy rate in L2: 50%–75%. 800 or more readers of Micmac, 200 write it. Oral and written courses exist in most schools in the primary grades. New media. Radio programs. Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 1874–1998.
Writing System: Latin
Nation of Origin: Canada
Other Comments: Christian (Roman Catholic), traditional religion.