Sons of Membertou - "Kepmite'tmnej (Mi'kmaq Honour song)" (Official Audio)

Listen to Sons of Membertou's "Kepmite'tmnej (Mi'kmaq Honour song)," from their album Wapna'kik: The People of the Dawn. About the song, community leader and drum keeper Darrell Bernard writes:

"The “Mi'kmaq Honour Song” has become the national anthem of the Mi'kmaw Nation. This beautiful song, written by George Paul, is about a deep respect for the Nation of Mi'kma'kik. It is about bringing our people together, and about respecting and remembering the reasons that the Creator has placed us on this land."

Sons of Membertou, Mi'kmaw drum, vocals

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Wapna'kik (The People of the Dawn) by the Mi'kmaw musical group Sons of Membertou foregrounds the powerful voices of their people. First released in 1995, Wapna'kik documents a vital resurgence of the Membertou community’s music practices. The 2025 updated edition by Smithsonian Folkways includes "Mi'kmaq Honour Song" and "500 Years," introducing a new generation of singers and musicians. Their addition to the album exemplifies the diversity of Mi’kmaw sonic and poetic expressions, which continue, as they have for centuries, to incorporate global influences. Drums play a central role throughout the album, uniting generations of those who strengthen Mi’kmaw language and culture through these songs.

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