Uploaded March 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
“Today, it is common to hear the youth in our community sit at a drum and sing the ‘Mi’kmaq Honour Song,’ and for the children to join the drummers for a chance to enjoy the songs and stories that the Sons of Membertou so love to share,” writes community leader and drum keeper Darrell Bernard in the liner notes for the group’s newly reissued 1995 debut album, ‘Wapna'kik: The People of the Dawn.’
The Sons of Membertou recently traveled to Wellington, New Zealand, to take part in the 48th World Conference of the International Council for Traditions of Music and Dance. Enjoy this video featuring their recording of “Kepmite'tmnej (Mi'kmaq Honour Song)” alongside moments from their visit.
The traditional Mi’kmaw drum group continues to perform across Canada, Turtle Island, and beyond, preserving their culture and language by sharing their music with younger generations and welcoming new members.
Learn more: folkways.si.edu/sons-of-membertou/wapnakik-the-people-of-the-dawn
Produced by Centre for Sound Communities, Cape Breton University
Edited by Nick Baldwin
© 2025, Centre for Sound Communities, Cape Breton University
The content and comments posted here are subject to the Smithsonian Institution copyright and privacy policy (www.si.edu/copyright). Smithsonian reserves the right in its sole discretion to remove any content at any time.
“Today, it is common to hear the youth in our community sit at a drum and sing the ‘Mi’kmaq Honour Song,’ and for the children to join the drummers for a chance to enjoy the songs and stories that the Sons of Membertou so love to share,” writes community leader and drum keeper Darrell Bernard in the liner notes for the group’s newly reissued 1995 debut album, ‘Wapna'kik: The People of the Dawn.’
The Sons of Membertou recently traveled to Wellington, New Zealand, to take part in the 48th World Conference of the International Council for Traditions of Music and Dance. Enjoy this video featuring their recording of “Kepmite'tmnej (Mi'kmaq Honour Song)” alongside moments from their visit.
The traditional Mi’kmaw drum group continues to perform across Canada, Turtle Island, and beyond, preserving their culture and language by sharing their music with younger generations and welcoming new members.
Learn more: folkways.si.edu/sons-of-membertou/wapnakik-the-people-of-the-dawn
Produced by Centre for Sound Communities, Cape Breton University
Edited by Nick Baldwin
© 2025, Centre for Sound Communities, Cape Breton University
The content and comments posted here are subject to the Smithsonian Institution copyright and privacy policy (www.si.edu/copyright). Smithsonian reserves the right in its sole discretion to remove any content at any time.
