ABOUT
Indigenous PEI
We are the Epekwitnewaq Mi’kmaq (Mi’kmaq of PEI), the original inhabitants of the unceded territory of Epekwitk, also known as Prince Edward Island.
We, the Mi’kmaq, are the strong and resilient Indigenous people of the Northeastern Woodlands, traditionally known as Mi’kma’ki. This region includes Canada’s four Atlantic provinces (PEI, NS, NB, NFLD), the Gaspé Peninsula (QC), and northeastern Maine.
Indigenous PEI has been home to the Mi’kmaq for over ten thousand years. Our community includes the Lennox Island (L’nui Mnikuk) First Nation Band and the Abegweit First Nation Band.
Epekwitk is also the chosen home of several other First Nations, Metis, and Inuit peoples, whose cultures and traditions have enriched our island community.
Our Indigenous community is deeply connected to our history and culture, while also actively engaged in the wider Island community. Our members are represented in all arenas of life – from politics to academia, health care, fishing, farming, the creative arts, and more.
Our traditions, stories, and way of life are deeply interwoven with the lands, forests, and waters that Mother Earth has provided us with for time immortal. We are guided by a reverence for nature and a commitment to reciprocity. We take no more than we need and strive to give back so that there will always be enough for future generations.
About Lennox Island First Nation
Lennox Island First Nation is the first and largest Mi’kmaq Band on Epektwik. Today, approximately 450 of the Band’s 1056 members live on the Lennox Island reserve, also known as L’nui Mnikuk. The 540-hectare island is located in northwestern PEI and connected to the main island by a short causeway and bridge and overlooks Malpeque Bay.
Malpeque Bay, also known as Malpek or Kikji-Sipukwek. This shallow estuarine bay and its shoreline served as the site of several Mi’kmaq campsites for over 10,000 years. Of these sites, Lennox Island was amongst the largest and was likely home to the Chief of the area.
This special place has always held deep spiritual and cultural significance to the Mi’kmaq people. For thousands of years, they have respected and cherished the lands and waters of L’nui Mnikuk. In turn, the fields, forests, and seas deeply shaped the Mi’kmaq way of life and their traditions. Fishing was an integral part of Mi’kmaq life for millennia and continues to be an important part of the local economy to this day.
Today, Lennox Island is a thriving community hub and destination for visitors interested in experiencing Indigenous PEI. The Lennox Island Cultural Centre is a must-visit destination, featuring interactive displays, artifacts, and photographs.
The Band’s ceremonial Mawi’omi grounds also hold deep cultural significance to the community and continue to serve as the site for traditional ceremonies and annual gatherings. Finally, L’nui Mnikuk’s walking trails also offer an open invitation for community members and visitors to slow down and reconnect with nature.
About Abegweit First Nation
Abegweit First Nation is a proud Mi’kmaq Band that traces its roots to Epekwitk (Prince Edward Island), dating back 10,000 years according to oral tradition and archaeological evidence.
The official creation of the Abegweit First Nation occurred on March 7th, 1972. Originally, all Mi’kmaq on Epekwitk were a part of one band, the Lennox Island First Nation. The formation of a new Band was proposed as a means of better serving the needs of community members in Eastern PEI, a fair distance from the Lennox Island reserve in Western PEI. An overwhelming majority voted in favour of forming a new Band and Abegweit First Nation was formed. It is comprised of the Morell, Rocky Point, and Scotchfort reserves.
The Scotchfort reserve is located approximately twenty minutes northeast of Charlottetown along Route 2. The largest of the three reserves, it is the commercial and community hub of the Abegweit Band. Traditional ceremonies, tours, cultural demonstrations, and educational workshops are also hosted at Scotchfort throughout the year. The Band’s annual Mawi’omi celebration (also known as a pow-wow) takes place each June at Scotchfort, while fright-seekers of all ages look forward to the opening of the Chief’s Haunted Barn each October.
A short drive further east, the Morelll reserve is composed of 200 acres of forested land as well as a few residential homes along the highway.
The Rocky Point reserve is about a thirty-minute drive southwest of Charlottetown. Notably, as the eagle flies, Rocky Point is a short distance across the water from the Charlottetown harbour. This small reserve is primarily residential, although the recent acquisition of additional land is opening up new opportunities for development.
While the Abegweit First Nation Band includes a relatively small number of members, its population has grown rapidly over the past ten years at a rate of approximately forty percent. At 26 years, the average age of the Band is also markedly lower than that of the Island’s overall population, which is 44 years. (These statistics are not uncommon across many First Nations communities in Canada.)
As it sets its sights on supporting its growing and youthful population, Abegweit First Nation has embarked on a number of infrastructure projects at all three of its reserves. The Band is exploring the potential of a clean energy development on the Morell reserve, while the recent acquisition of land near the Block Point Lighthouse will pave the way for tourism-based infrastructure.
The most ambitious infrastructure projects are set to transform the Scotchfort reserve. One of these is a large active transportation development that will link the community to the Confederation Trail, extend the existing trail system, and support the development of water-based tourism experiences. A newly completed commercial building, designed to be accessible to all, will serve as a valuable space for community members and visitors alike.
