On October 13 Gus will go for surgery to remove a bladder stone. Gus will return to the museum after surgery but will spend several weeks recovering away from public view. We'll share regular updates throughout his recovery. We look forward to the day he's fully recovered and back greeting guests.

For over 400 years, African Nova Scotians have shaped our province’s relationship with the ocean, working as shipbuilders, sailors, fishers, navigators, and harbor workers. Yet, these vital stories have too often been left out of our maritime history.

This exhibit offers a platform for Mi’kmaw people to express their continued experiences with an understanding of the lands and the waters of Mi’kma’ki.

You can see this Mi’kmaw Doll at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. Ta'n me'j Tel-keknuo'ltiek: How Unique We Still Are, reflects how Mi’kmaw people remain connected to the lands and waters of Mi’kma’ki.

Look at the tiny wooden snowshoes with their intricate webbing (the doll is 26cm tall). Would you have the skill and patience to make them? This Mi’kmaw doll was made in Bear River in the late 1800s and was donated to the museum by the late Claire Dennis.

This quill box is one of the oldest in our collection. We think it was made for a resident of Elmsdale in the 1800s and was given to the Nova Scotia Museum in 1931. Object #: 1931.97

The Mi’kmaq have long used porcupine quills and birch bark to make objects of great beauty. The technique involves inserting the tips of the quills into holes made in wet bark, which contracts as it dries, holding the quills firmly in place. Artists then cut the bark into different shapes.

Reminder that our Wee Wild Ones program returns October 6th! For more than 10 years, children under 5 years old and their caregivers have joined us to explore the wonders of nature.

If you catch one, please freeze it and email [email protected] (Attn: Brenna Frasier) to schedule a drop off to the Museum of Natural History, Halifax. If you have seen these fish in particular lake(s), please reach out to let us know.

Have you seen any brown bullhead catfish with strange black spots or lumps? We are collaborating with researchers in collecting catfish from Nova Scotia that may have an interesting form of cancer.