From the Art Canada Institute
The Art Canada Institute gratefully acknowledges the generosity of Power Corporation of Canada, Season Sponsor, 2025–2026 Publications.
We thank the Founding Sponsor of the Art Canada Institute: BMO Financial Group.
Many thanks to Vienna Sanipass, Mona Francis, Jane Alice Dedam, Rhonda Joseph, Franziska von Rosen, Logan Perley, Kirk Pennell, Stephen Dedam, Vincent Barlow, Starr Kelly, Starlit Simon, Andrea Belczewski, Natasha Simon, Henrietta Black, David Offierski, Janna Eggebeen, John Bird, Joe John Sanipass, Josh Green, Shawn Graham, Roxanne Reeves, Michael Staples, Peter Larocque, Jennifer Longon, Bill Hicks, Rob Gemmell, Katherine Sorrell Kirkpatrick, Meghan Leroux, Beth Leroux, Tom Smart, Michael Doucet, Troy Haines, Tony Lewis, Alexandra Hubert, Sandy Hunter, Clem McIntosh, Stephen Foster, Greg Hemmings, Skyler Michaels, Holly Brown Bear, Hayden McGowan, Lyle Cairdeas, James MacDonald, Desmond Simon, Francis Simon, Shelley Chase, Larry Francis, Susanne Alexander, Julie Scriver, Alan Sheppard.
The authors wish to recognize the many men, women, and youth who contributed their time, skill, and dedication to the Micmac Indian Craftsmen during the 1960s.
IMAGE SOURCES
Every effort has been made to secure permissions for all copyrighted material. The Art Canada Institute will gladly correct any errors or omissions.
The Art Canada Institute would like to thank the following for their assistance: Art Gallery of Ontario (Alexandra Cousins); Beaverbrook Art Gallery; Estate of Norval Morrisseau (Cory Dingle); National Gallery of Canada (Emily Putnam); Provincial Archives of New Brunswick; and Jordan Bennett and Sandra Racine.
The community of Elsipogtog owns the copyright to all MIC works and graphic images created during the 1960s. Permissions for reproduction or publication of these materials are now administered through the community as part of an ongoing commitment to cultural stewardship and the protection of Wabanaki artistic heritage.
Credits for Cover Images
Michael Francis, The Micmac Indian Legend of Our Seasons–Glooscap, Tatler the Loon, and the Summer Queen, 1963. (See below for details.)
Royal Tuscan, The Micmac Indian Legends of the Little People fine china set, 1964. (See below for details.)
Credits for Banner Images
Foreword: Michael Francis, Micmac Indian Legends of the Little People, Series 1F, 1963. (See below for details.)
History of the Micmac Indian Craftsmen: Michael Francis (design), Micmac Legend of the Wild Goose, 1964. (See below for details.)
Key Works: Michael Francis (design), Micmac Legend of the Wild Goose, 1964. (See below for details.)
Recognition & Reach: Michael Francis, Glooscap’s Summer Home—Prince Edward Island, 1963. (See below for details.)
Continuing the Story: Michael Francis, The Micmac Indian Legend of Our Seasons–Glooscap, Tatler the Loon, and the Summer Queen, 1963. (See below for details.)
Sources & Resources: Large display of MIC items in the New Brunswick booth at the National Gift Show in Toronto, 1964. (See below for details.)
Copyright & Credits: Michael Francis, The Micmac Legend of Our Seasons—the Summer Queen Meets the Winter King, 1963. (See below for details.)
Credits for Works and Photographs
Ancient Mi’kmaw petroglyphs at Kejimkujik National Park, Nova Scotia. Photograph by Parks Canada. Courtesy of Parks Canada.
Atlantic Advocate magazine feature article on the MIC, July 1964. Courtesy of Goose Lane Editions.
Back of the Micmac Legends of the Little People tapestry, 1965, design by Michael Francis, handwoven by Ivan H. Crowell. Courtesy of the University of New Brunswick.
Basket, c.2014, by Sandra Racine. Courtesy of the artist.
Cards from the initial set of MIC silkscreened Hasti-Note cards, designed by non-Indigenous instructors from the provincial Handicrafts Branch, 1962. Provincial Archives of New Brunswick, Fredericton (PANB MC1254-MS4-E). Courtesy of the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick.
Christmas Handicraft Sale ad, with special mention of the MIC, Moncton Transcript, November 13, 1963, p. 16. Courtesy of Goose Lane Editions.
Cover of the Blue Book of New Brunswick Craftsmen and Handicraft Shops, featuring Michael Francis’s Micmac Legend of the Wild Goose tapestry, 1964. Courtesy of Goose Lane Editions.
Cover of the Canada-Design ’67 Catalogue, 1976. Courtesy of John Leroux.
Cover of IODE’s 1965 Canadian Indian Legends calendar, with designs by Michael Francis and Stephen Dedam. Private collection. Courtesy of Goose Lane Editions.
Cover of the MIC catalogue, 1964, Provincial Archives of New Brunswick, Fredericton (PANB P340-128). Courtesy of the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick.
Cover of Micmac Legends of Prince Edward Island, by John Joe Sark (Gynergy Books/Ragweed Press, 1988). Courtesy of AbeBooks.
Cover of New Brunswick, Canada: Motourland, provincial tourism booklet, c.1964. Courtesy of Goose Lane Editions.
Dancing Bird, 1967, by Lucy Qinnuayuaq. Beaverbrook Art Gallery, Fredericton, gift of Mrs. A. Murray Vaughan (1978.18). Courtesy of the Beaverbrook Art Gallery.
Elizabeth Milliea making screenprinted Hasti-Note cards at the MIC studio, Moncton Daily Times, February 2, 1965, 2. Courtesy of Goose Lane Editions.
Elsipogtog basketmaker and former MIC craftsman Joe John Sanipass in his workshop, 2021. Photograph by John Leroux. Courtesy of John Leroux.
Former MIC craftsperson Jane Dedam holding the creamer and sugar bowl from the MIC’s Royal Tuscan fine china set, date unknown. Photograph by John Leroux. Courtesy of John Leroux.
Illustration of Hopi, Zuni, and Navajo blankets, reproduced in the New International Encyclopedia (New York City: Dodd Mea, aqq Company, 1902). Courtesy of Goose Lane Editions.
Indians of Canada pavilion at Expo 67, 1967. Photographer unknown.
Indigenous basket weaver sitting beside a stack of baskets, 1951. Photographer unknown. Provincial Archives of New Brunswick, Fredericton. Courtesy of the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick.
Interior pages of the Canada-Design ’67 Catalogue, 1976. Courtesy of John Leroux.
Large clay head by Stephen Dedam, c.1961. Photographer unknown. Provincial Archives of New Brunswick, Fredericton (PANB P340-134). Courtesy of the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick.
Large display of MIC items in the New Brunswick booth at the National Gift Show in Toronto, 1964. Photographer unknown. Provincial Archives of New Brunswick, Fredericton (PANB P340-074). Courtesy of the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick.
Map of New Brunswick, n.d. Courtesy of John Leroux.
Map of New Brunswick, picturing the community of Big Cove, n.d. Courtesy of John Leroux.
MIC artist Vincent Barlow with one of his ink on paper works, 1962. Photographer unknown. Provincial Archives of New Brunswick, Fredericton (PANB P340-59). Courtesy of the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick.
MIC invoice for Hasti-Note card sets sent to the Newfoundland Hotel gift shop, St. John’s, 1965. Collection of Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa (LAC RG10-9034). Courtesy of Library and Archives Canada.
MIC logo and product tag by Stephen Dedam, 1962. Private collection. Courtesy of Goose Lane Editions.
MIC silkscreened image of Glooscap riding a whale from the school textbook New Brunswick: The Story of our Province (W.J. Gage, 1965). Courtesy of Goose Lane Editions. Photo credit: John Leroux.
The Micmac Indian Legends of the Little People fine china set, 1964, by Royal Tuscan. Private collection. Courtesy of Goose Lane Editions. Photo credit: John Leroux.
Michael Francis (left) and Ivan H. Crowell (right) holding an artwork from Francis’s Micmac Legends of the Little People series, 1963. Photographer unknown. Provincial Archives of New Brunswick, Fredericton (PANB P14-2-6918). Courtesy of the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick.
Michael Francis (bottom right) featured in New Brunswick, Canada: Motourland, provincial tourism booklet, c.1964. Courtesy of Goose Lane Editions.
Michael Francis presenting a number of his MIC artworks at a New Brunswick Craftsmen’s Council exhibition in Moncton, 1963. Photographer unknown. Provincial Archives of New Brunswick, Fredericton (PANB P115-5820). Courtesy of the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick.
Miniature Mi’kmaw souvenir canoe, c.1880. Private collection. Courtesy of Goose Lane Editions. Photo credit: John Leroux.
Moncton Transcript photograph showing the local chapter of IODE selling MIC products out of a camping trailer parked next to the Trans-Canada Highway tourist bureau, July 11, 1967. Provincial Archives of New Brunswick, Fredericton (PANB P115-12202). Courtesy of the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick.
Navajo double saddle blanket, c.1900. Private collection. Courtesy of Goose Lane Editions.
The Rainbow of Lake Louise—Stoney Indian Legend—Alberta, Kisikwekewiku’s, 1964–65, by Michael Francis. Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire Calendar. Private collection. Courtesy of Goose Lane Editions.
Small clay figures by Stephen Dedam, c.1961. Photographer unknown. Provincial Archives of New Brunswick, Fredericton (PANB P340-135). Courtesy of the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick.
Spread from the MIC catalogue, 1964, Provincial Archives of New Brunswick, Fredericton (PANB P340-128). Courtesy of the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick.
Stephen Dedam, 1962, from the Indian News, April 1962, 7. Courtesy of Goose Lane Editions.
Still from a 1963 National Film Board recording of the Dunn International exhibition at the Beaverbrook Art Gallery, with curator Edwy Cooke (left), and MIC members Gilbert Augustine (centre) and Michael Francis (right). National Film Board of Canada, Montreal (41001_04042312).
Summer session brochure for the New Brunswick School of Arts and Crafts at Fundy National Park, 1963. Provincial Archives of New Brunswick, Fredericton (PANB RS739C-1963). Courtesy of the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick.
Teacup from The Micmac Indian Legends of the Little People fine china set, 1964, by Royal Tuscan. Private collection. Courtesy of Goose Lane Editions. Photo credit: John Leroux.
Typical hand-sewn and silkscreen burlap package for the MIC Hasti-Notes card sets, date unknown. Provincial Archives of New Brunswick, Fredericton (PANB MC1254-MS4-E). Courtesy of the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick.
View of Big Cove / Elsipogtog in 1965. Photographer unknown. Provincial Archives of New Brunswick, Fredericton (PANB P115-8305). Courtesy of the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick.
Wabanaki beaded coat with double-curve pattern, c.1825. New Brunswick Museum, Saint John, Mary Kearny Odell Bequest (30116). Courtesy of the New Brunswick Museum.
Wabanaki beaded purse, c.1875. New Brunswick Museum, Saint John, gift of Alice Gertrude Grimmer (1950-85). Courtesy of the New Brunswick Museum.
The Wabanaki decorative motive: the Double Curve, reproduced in The Double Curve Motive in Northeastern Algonkian Art, by Frank G. Speck (Ottawa: Government Printing Bureau, 1914), 21. Courtesy of Goose Lane Editions.
Wolastoqiyik etched birchbark box with double-curve pattern, c.1850, by Sarah Sacobie. New Brunswick Museum, Saint John, gift of Stella Gunter (10877). Courtesy of the New Brunswick Museum.
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Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication
Title: Wabanaki modern: the artistic legacy of the 1960s “Micmac Indian Craftsmen” / by Emma Hassencahl-Perley & John Leroux.
Names: Hassencahl-Perley, Emma, author. | Leroux, John, 1970-, author. |
Container of (work): Micmac Indian Craftsmen. Works. Selections. | Art Canada Institute, publisher.
Description: Includes bibliographical references.
Identifiers: Canadiana 20260144266 | ISBN 9781487104030 (HTML) | ISBN 9781487104023 (PDF)
Subjects: LCSH: Micmac Indian Craftsmen. | LCSH: Micmac art—New Brunswick—20th century. | CSH:
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