The first entry in the records of the Mi`kmaq family of Francois Joseph
& Jeanne Lejeune is found in an early census of Mi`kma`ki recorded by
the French in the year 1693.
In the very same census record, you will find Jeanne Lejeune's brother
Pierre Lejeune living two households above. It is not known where Francois Joseph and Jeanne Lejeune
were living before the 1693 census, but we do know according to their daughter's
marriage record they had to be living among the other Mi'kmaq families since
both Francois Joseph and Jeanne Lejeune are recorded as being "De la Nation
Sauvage" in the marriage record of their daughter Caterine
Joseph to Jean Comeau.
By the time the 1698 census roles around we discover that Francois Joseph
has died.
Jeanne's brother, Martin Lejeune, whose first wife was a Mi'kmaq woman by the name of Marie Jeanne Kagijonias, remarried to Marie Gaudet.
Marie Gaudet was the daughter of a widower named Jean Gaudet. The marriage between Martin Lejeune and Marie Gaudet
would provide the catalyst for a another marriage between the two
families, because Martin's sister, Jeanne Lejeune, now a widow
would meet Martin's new father-in-law, the widower Jean Gaudet and the two would marry.
At times the family of Francois Joseph would take the Lejeune name of his
wife Jeanne.
Francois Joseph [Lejeune], the son of Francois Joseph and Jeanne Lejeune
married a Mi'kmaq woman by the name of Marie Égighighe.
Their daughter Marguerite Joseph married Martin Grand Claude who was the son
of Grand Claude and Marie Medosset.
In the 1708 census for the first time in the French census records, we find
the three Lejeune families
reunited in the Mi'kmaq community of La Heve.
Kepmite'tmnej
Honour song
Kepmite'tmnej ta'n teli-l'nuulti'kw
Let us greatly respect our nativeness
Nikma'jtut mawita'nej
My people let us gather
Kepmite'tmnej ta'n wetapeksulti'kw
Let us greatly respect our aboriginal roots
Nikma'jtut apoqnmatultinej
My people let us help one and other
apoqnmatultinej ta'n kisu'lkw
Let us help one and other according to the Creator's
Tel-ika'luksi'kw ula wskitqamu'k
intention for putting us on this planet
Eia hei yo
Weio hei hai ya
( repeat)
Ta ho
George Paul wrote The Mi'kmaq Honour Song while on a spiritual quest and
fast"
My first recording was titled "Traditional Micmac Chants by George Paul". It was meant to be tape, but it has gained a lot of popularity at Pow
Wow’s mainly due to my original songs The Honour Song and The Gathering Song. My most recent album is titled "Red Ochre." This recording has generated a lot of
attention with CBC and other stations, especially First Nation-owned and operated stations across Canada.
George Paul-Born in Miramichi, NB,
Residing in Red Bank First Nation
