Michael James Isaac

Michael J. Isaac is Mi’kmaw from the Listuguj First Nation. Michael began his career as a law enforcement officer, serving his community for ten years and later four communities in Cape Breton for an additional three years. After leaving law enforcement, Michael attended university, obtaining a B.A. from Cape Breton University as well as a B.Ed. and M.Ed. from St. Francis Xavier University. Michael also worked for various federal departments in Ottawa including as an analysist for the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS). He was a grade five teacher for the Cape Breton Victoria Regional School Board for seven years and a consultant for the Department of Education in Nova Scotia for two years. Michael is an advocate for Indigenizing curriculum within the public and First Nation school systems. He has instructed university courses at Acadia, Cape Breton University and McGill. Michael is presently principal of New Richmond High School within the Eastern Shores School Board, Quebec. He is the author of two books published in English and Mi’kmaw which speak to the importance of identity, acceptance and experiences of Indigenous peoples — How the Cougar Came to be Called the Ghost Cat / Ta’n Petalu Telui’tut Skite’kmujewey and The Lost Teachings / Panuijkatasikl Kina’masuti’l. Both books are also published in French and Mi’kmaw as Comment le Puma a fini par être appelé le Chat Fantôme / Ta’n Petalu Telui’tut Skite’kmujewey and Les Savoirs Perdus / Panuijkatasikl Kina’masuti’l. The Anglophone and Francophone school boards within Nova Scotia and New Brunswick have embraced the books, which provide many lessons and have included them as resources for their curriculum.