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Murdena Marie Marshall (September 17, 1942 – October 22, 2018) was a Mi'kmaw elder, language speaker, knowledge keeper, Traditional Knowledge expert, spiritual leader, author, and associate professor of Mi’kmaw Studies at Cape Breton University (CBU).

Early life and education

Murdena was born in Whycocomagh to parents Roddie and Elizabeth (Sylliboy) Stevens. After the death of her mother she went to live with her maternal grandparents. Her grandfather was Gabriel Sylliboy, the first elected chief of the Mi’kmaw Grand Council. He ensured she was both educated in English and understood Mi'kmaw culture and language.

Murdena attended Indian Day School in Eskasoni until grade 8, then Catholic Middle School in Arichat, Cape Breton, for two years and St. Joseph’s Residential Convent School for Girls in Mabou for two years.

Murdena graduated from the University of New Brunswick with a Bachelor of Education degree in 1984 and completed a certificate in Mi’kmaw Immersion at St. Thomas University. After teaching in the community, she returned to her studies attending Harvard University to complete a Master of Education degree.

Career

Murdena was a teacher in the community before becoming part of the faculty at the University College of Cape Breton (now CBU). She helped develop and then teach the university’s Mi’kmaw Studies program.

Together with husband Albert Marshall and Cheryl Bartlett, Murdena co-created Integrative Science, an undergraduate degree program at CBU that brought together Western science and Indigenous traditional ecological knowledge. Integrative Science was created to address the lack of Indigenous knowledges in science curricula and to bolster the number of Mi’kmaw students in the university's science programs.

Murdena continued to be active after her retirement due to health reasons, participating in projects with UINR (Unama’ki Institute of Natural Resources), National Aboriginal Health Organization, NADACA (Native Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselling Association), and the Native Women’s Association of Canada. She was also instrumental in the Elders’ Advisory Council for the Mi’kmawey Debert Cultural Centre, a project led by the Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq.

Recognition

• 1989 - Outstanding Leadership Award from Eskasoni First Nation
• 1996 - National Aboriginal Role Model Award
• 2006 - Grand Chief Donald Marshall Senior Memorial Elder Award
• 2009 - Degree Doctor of Letters honoris causa by CBU
• 2011 - Recognized in the Senate of Canada in Ottawa by the Honourable Jane Cordy

Personal life

From the Bear Clan, Murdena lived in Eskasoni with her husband, Albert Marshall. She was a mother of six, a grandmother, and great grandmother.

References

1. ^ "Dr. Murdena Marie Marshall Obituary - Sydney, NS". Dignity Memorial.
2. ^ "Murdena Marshall". Tepi’ketuek Mi’kmaw Archives. Retrieved 2024-10-25.
3. "'A great knowledge keeper': Mi'kmaw elder Murdena Marshall dies". CBC.
4. ^ Canada, Senate of. "Debates - Issue 24 - October 27, 2011". SenCanada. Retrieved 2024-10-25.
5. "Origins and History (1990's) | Integrative Science". www.integrativescience.ca. Retrieved 2024-10-25.
6. "Elder Murdena Marshall - Honoured" (PDF). Integrative Science. February 2012.
7. "People (Elders and Educators) | Integrative Science". integrativescience.ca. Retrieved 2024-10-25.

• Pending AfC submissions
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