Eel Ground First Nation

Eel Ground Band

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Eel Ground Band

Location of Eel Ground in New Brunswick

Coordinates: 46°58′9.2″N 65°37′38.2″W / 46.969222°N 65.627278°W / 46.969222; -65.627278
Country Canada
Province New Brunswick
County Northumberland County
Established 1783
Government
 • Chief George Harold Ginnish
 • Council Joseph Ward
Roger Joseph Augustine
Emerson Joseph Francis
Wilfred Ward
Wallace Francis
Joseph Kenneth Larry
Gail Larry Hanifan
Kris Francis McKay
 • MP Tilly O'Neill-Gordon (C)
 • Provincial Representatives Rick Brewer (L)
John W. Foran (L)
Area
 • Total 28.23 km2 (10.90 sq mi)
Lowest elevation 0 m (0 ft)
Population (2012)[1]
 • Total 977
Time zone Atlantic (AST) (UTC-4)
 • Summer (DST) ADT (UTC-3)
NTS Map 021I13
Website http://www.eelgroundfirstnation.com/
Postal code span:

The Eel Ground Band or Eel Ground First Nation is a Mi'kmaq First Nation band government of 977 people located on the Miramichi River in northern New Brunswick, Canada. The community comprises three reserves (Eel Ground #2, Big Hole Tract # 8 (south half), and Renous #12).[2]

History

Eel Ground principally occupies lands adjoining the City of Miramichi, New Brunswick, and members of the two communities have no doubt interacted from the time of earliest European settlement. About 1648, Nicolas Denys, Sieur de Fronsac, established a fort and trading post nearby, "on the North side of the Miramichi, at the forks of the river". His son, Richard Denys, was placed in charge of the fort and trading post. In 1688 Richard describes the establishment as including about a dozen French and more than 500 Indians.[3][4][5][6]

The Band was officially recognised by the British in 1783, soon after the French defeat in the Seven Years' War.[1]

No doubt the First Nation population had long preceded Denys' "establishment", and present-day inhabitants of Eel Ground would largely be descended from Richard Denys' immediate neighbours. For the Mi'kmaq, the nearby junction of the Northwest and Main Southwest branches of the Miramichi River had long served as a natural meeting point.

Notable people

Dancer at 2000 Pow-wow hosted by Eel Ground First Nation (IR Walker 2000)

See also

References

  1. 1 2 , Indian and Northern Affairs, retrieved August 30, 2012.
  2. ↑ http://eelgroundschool.ca/leaders/ourcomm.html Eel Ground First Nation
  3. ↑ English, E.J. (2002) Nelson and its Neighbours: 300 years on the Miramichi, 2nd Ed., Earl J. English, Miramichi
  4. ↑ Davidson, W.H. (1947) An account of the life of William Davidson, otherwise John Godsman, of Banffshire and Aberdeenshire in Scotland and Miramichi in British North America. Publ. New Brunswick Museum, Historical Studies No. 6.
  5. ↑ Davidson, W.H. (1966) William Davidson 1740-1790. North Shore Leader, Newcastle
  6. ↑ Beaubear's Island National Historic Site http://www.breadnmolasses.com/2004/atlanticarts/id73.html

Coordinates: 46°58′9.2″N 65°37′38.2″W / 46.969222°N 65.627278°W / 46.969222; -65.627278

First Nations in New Brunswick


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