The Mi'kmaq Creation Story is a new coin from the Royal Canadian Mint, designed by Stephenville Mi'kmaw artist Marcus Gosse. Each of the coin's five segments depicts the seven levels of the creation story, except for the middle section which depicts three levels.
Earlier this week the Canadian Mint released a new twenty dollar coin which features the artwork of Marcus Gosse, a Mi'kmaw artist from Stephenville, Newfoundland. It has several panels which tell the Mi'kmaw Creation Story and was created in consultation with an elder. Gosse was surprised when the Mint approached him about the project, an unexpected honour and opportunity.
Marcus Gosse
Most religions have a Creation myth or story and in the book of Genesis, shared by Jews and Christians, there are two. In Canada efforts were made through Residential Schools to supplant traditional Indigenous Creation stories with the Judeo/Christian stories. They survived, just the same, and have been nurtured back into Indigenous cultures.
Years ago I was a member of the National Life-Long Learning Committee of the United Church, an entity which passed out of existence in our shrinking denomination. One of our meetings was in Victoria, British Columbia, and during our time there we visited a Salish School which respectfully upheld the traditional stories and symbols. The principal spoke to us about some of those myths, a meaningful moment in the midst of our task-oriented agenda.
At $105 I won't be buying the Marcus Gosse coin but the Mint predicts it will sell out quickly. While I find meaning in our Christian Creation stories I'm glad that the core myths of First Peoples are receiving respect and being represented.
3 comments:
This is just beautiful. Pleased that the Canadian Mint decided to approach this artist and depict this creation story. Canada really does have outstandingly meaningful and creative stamps and coins. KB
So, why does a $20 coin cost $105?????
I agree, Kathy, that this is lovely piece. Depicting a story in multiple panels on a coin is no small feat -- well, it is small, but you get the picture. These commemorative coins may cost a mint, Judy, but there seems to be no shortage of eager collectors.
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