The Past
In Debert, Nova Scotia, there is a complex of three archaeological sites as well as numerous other surface finds that date back more than 11,000 calendar years. The information and artifacts recovered from Debert tell a fascinating story about indigenous life at the end of the last Ice Age glaciations. With large portions of the sites still undisturbed as well as the scientific quality of the original excavations, the Debert area is among the most significant archaeological places in North America. The sites are among the most important in North America.

The Present
During the 1970s, the Government of Canada and the Province of Nova Scotia designated the sites as a National Historic Site and as a Nova Scotia Protected Place. Since the late 1990's, the Mi'kmaq have been working with the Province of Nova Scotia as well as the RCMP on cleaning, monitoring and protecting the area. The Mi'kmawey Debert Cultural Centre, a charitable, not-for-profit organization, is an outgrowth of these efforts. Unlike some programs at CMM, Mi'kmawey Debert is being developed on behalf all Mi'kmaw First Nation communities in Nova Scotia.

With Elders from across Nova Scotia, the Mi'kmawey Debert Elders' Advisory Council has guided the development and implementation of Mi'kmawey Debert since 2002. The creation of a beautiful 4.4-kilometer interpretive trail was a first step for the Cultural center in 2003. Interpretive signs along the trail tell history of the sites and of the Mi'kmaq people. In 2003, The CMM initiated a comprehensive study to investigate potential for a cultural center at Debert. This was followed by a study to define the Plan for Visitor Experiences at the Centre in 2005.

The Future
The concept of developing a Cultural Centre near Debert began in 1991. Once financial support for the Centre has been solidified, construction will begin on a main facility to accompany the existing trail and other outdoor learning experiences. Hands on learning are at the heart of visitor experiences planned for the Centre. The Centre will be an important gathering place for healing and other cultural activities. To support these aims, a robust outreach program with special spaces for teaching and learning workshops along with smaller gathering spaces is integral to the Centre's plan. A large gathering space will accommodate meetings of Chiefs and Councils as well as other organizations and groups. A community gallery will allow for all Mi'kmaw communities to share their own stories directly with visitors. The Mi'kmawey Debert Cultural Centre will be open to the public year-round.

Why Mi'kmawey Debert?
The Mi'kmawey Debert Cultural Centre will be a place for instilling pride and identity, teaching history, highlighting the Mi'kmaw language and oral traditions, and communicating the wisdom of Elders. The culture of the Mi'kmaw people rests largely on oral traditions. Whether they are about Kluskap or Grand Chief Gabriel Sylliboy or Debert, stories are used to convey cultural values and to explain to each generation important community histories. The Centre will play a critical role in collecting and keeping these stories.