Murdena Marshall

Murdena Marie Marshall (née Stevens; September 17, 1942 – October 22, 2018)[1] was a Mi'kmaw elder, language speaker, knowledge keeper, Traditional Knowledge expert, spiritual leader, author, and associate professor of Mi’kmaw Studies at Cape Breton University.

[5][6][7][8] Marshall received numerous awards and honors, including an honorary Doctors of Letters, honoris causa, from Cape Breton University in 2009 in recognition of her role in promoting and supporting Mi’kmaw culture and education.

[13] Marshall attended the Catholic Middle School in Arichat, Cape Breton for grades nine and ten.

She helped develop and then teach in the Mi’kmaw Studies program along with fellow Mi'kmaw educator Sister Dorothy Moore, Dr. Stephanie Inglis, and Dr. Charles Mac Donald.

"[15] Marshall continued to be active after her retirement, participating in projects with the Unama’ki Institute of Natural Resources, the National Aboriginal Health Organization, and the Native Women’s Association of Canada.

She was an key early member of the Elders’ Advisory Council of the Mi’kmawey Debert Cultural Centre.