First Nations Communities In New Brunswick

New Brunswick is home to 15 First Nations communities, with more than 16,000 First Nations people living in the province, mostly Miꞌkmaq and Maliseet (Wolastoqiyik). The First Nations communities in New Brunswick include the Buctouche First Nation, Ugpi'Ganjig First Nation, Elsipogtog First Nation, Esgenoopetitj First Nation, Madawaska Maliseet First Nation, Metepenagiag Mi’kmaq Nation, and Peskotomuhkati Nation at Skutik (Passamaquoddy). The Passamaquoddy Nation has recently acquired legal status in Canada and is pursuing the return of lands in Charlotte County, including Ktaqamkuk, their name for St. Andrews, New Brunswick.

First Nations people in New Brunswick

The Mi'kmaq, Maliseet, and Passamaquoddy are the most notable First Nations groups in New Brunswick. The Mi'kmaq territories are mainly in the east of the province, while the Maliseet inhabit the St. John River valley and its tributaries, and the Passamaquoddy are situated in the southwest, around Passamaquoddy Bay. The Maliseet, also known as Wəlastəkwiyik, are named after the Wəlastəkw river, meaning "good river" for its gentle waves. The Passamaquoddy, or Peskotomuhkati, were repeatedly displaced from their land by European settlers and now have legal status in Canada as a First Nation. They are currently seeking the return of their ancestral lands in Charlotte County, including Ktaqamkuk, their name for St. Andrews.

The First Nations people of New Brunswick have faced historical injustices, including discriminatory practices under Canadian law and displacement from their traditional lands. Despite these challenges, they have persevered and continue to be a vital part of the province's cultural fabric.

The New Brunswick Aboriginal Peoples Council, formerly known as the New Brunswick Association of Metis and Non-Status Indian, was established in 1972 to advocate for the rights and improve the social and economic standards of the Off-Reserve Aboriginal People in the province. This organisation has been instrumental in addressing issues such as housing, economic development, and self-governance.

In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the importance of reconciliation and addressing the wrongs of the past. Efforts have been made to bridge the gap between First Nations communities and the provincial government, with initiatives such as the Equal Opportunity Plan aimed at providing equal access to services and resources for all residents of New Brunswick.

First Nations communities in New Brunswick

New Brunswick is home to 15 First Nations communities, with more than 16,000 First Nations people in the province, mostly Miꞌkmaq and Maliseet (Wolastoqiyik). The First Nations people of New Brunswick include the Mi'kmaq, Maliseet/Wəlastəkwiyik and Passamaquoddy. The Mi'kmaq territories are mostly in the east of the province. The Maliseets are located along the length of the St. John River, and the Passamaquoddy are situated in the southwest, around Passamaquoddy Bay.

The First Nations communities in New Brunswick are:

• Buctouche First Nation (also Buctouche MicMac Band or Tjipogtotjg)
• Ugpi'Ganjig First Nation (also Eel River Bar First Nation)
• Elsipogtog First Nation
• Esgenoopetitj First Nation (formerly Burnt Church First Nation)
• Fort Folly First Nation
• Indian Island First Nation
• Kingsclear First Nation
• Madawaska Maliseet First Nation
• Metepenagiag Mi'kmaq Nation
• Eel Ground First Nation (also Natoaganeg)
• Oromocto First Nation (also Welamukotuk First Nation)
• Pabineau First Nation
• Saint Mary’s (Wolastoqiyik) First Nation
• Tobique First Nation (also Neqotkuk)
• Woodstock First Nation
• Peskotomuhkati Nation at Skutik (Passamaquoddy)

The Passamaquoddy maintain a land claim at Saint Andrews, New Brunswick, and historically occurred in the province, but they have no reserves in the province and no official status in Canada. The New Brunswick Aboriginal Peoples Council is an off-reserve Aboriginal voice for approximately 28,260 Status and Non-Status Aboriginal People who reside in the province.

First Nations population in New Brunswick

The First Nations population in New Brunswick, Canada, numbers more than 16,000, mostly Miꞌkmaq and Maliseet (also known as Wolastoqiyik). There are 15 First Nations communities in New Brunswick, with 32 Indian reserves, of which 18 are recognised as census subdivisions by Statistics Canada.

The First Nations people of New Brunswick have a long and complex history, dating back thousands of years. Prior to European colonisation, the land was inhabited by several First Nations groups, including the Mi'kmaq, Maliseet, and Passamaquoddy. These groups had well-established cultures and ways of life, including seasonal migration and trade with Europeans.

The arrival of French explorers in the 16th century marked the beginning of colonisation, and the First Nations people began to experience displacement and loss of land. Despite initially welcoming the French and teaching them how to survive, the Mi'kmaq, in particular, faced population loss due to European diseases.

The French maintained relatively good relations with the First Nations people, but as France lost control of Acadia in the 18th century, the British took over, seizing land and deporting the French. The British-French conflict also saw the French cede its remaining claims to continental North America, including present-day New Brunswick, to the British.

The Passamaquoddy people, who live in both the US and Canada, have no reserves in New Brunswick and are not officially recognised in Canada, despite maintaining a land claim at Saint Andrews.

Today, the First Nations communities in New Brunswick continue to face challenges and advocate for their rights. The New Brunswick Aboriginal Peoples Council, formerly known as the New Brunswick Association of Metis and Non-Status Indian, works to improve the social and economic standards of the Off-Reserve Aboriginal People in the province. They provide various services, programs, and a political voice for their concerns.

According to Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC) and Indigenous Services Canada (ISC), as of December 31, 2023, there were approximately 17,510 First Nations people in New Brunswick, with 10,098 on-reserve and 7,412 off-reserve.

First Nations history in New Brunswick

New Brunswick is home to 15 First Nations communities, with a population of over 16,000 people, most of whom are Miꞌkmaq and Maliseet (Wolastoqiyik). The First Nations communities in New Brunswick include the Buctouche First Nation, Ugpi'Ganjig First Nation, Elsipogtog First Nation, Esgenoopetitj First Nation, Fort Folly First Nation, Indian Island First Nation, Kingsclear First Nation, Madawaska Maliseet First Nation, Metepenagiag Mi'kmaq Nation, Eel Ground First Nation, Oromocto First Nation, Pabineau First Nation, Saint Mary’s (Wolastoqiyik) First Nation, Tobique First Nation, and Woodstock First Nation.

First Nations is one of three groupings of Indigenous people in Canada, the other two being Métis and Inuit. Most First Nations communities hold reserve lands, and members may live on and off these reserves. The term First Nation can refer to a large ethnic grouping, such as the Mi'kmaq Nation, or smaller communities, often referred to as bands.

The New Brunswick Aboriginal Peoples Council (NBAPC), formerly known as the New Brunswick Association of Metis and Non-Status Indians, was established in 1972 to provide services, programs, and a political voice for the concerns of Aboriginal people in the province. The NBAPC is affiliated with The Congress of Aboriginal People (CAP), which represents over 1,034,260 Off-Reserve Aboriginal People across Canada.

First Nations land claims in New Brunswick

The Mi'kmaw First Nations in New Brunswick are asserting land claims over almost the entire province, including offshore waters. This claim is an expansion on a 2016 claim by the Elsipogtog First Nation, a Mi'kmaw community, which covered a third of the province. The new claim represents eight other Mi'kmaw communities in the province.

The Mi'kmaw communities state that their ancestors never ceded the lands and waters under treaties signed with the Crown. They are not seeking the return of private lands, only Crown lands and industrial freehold lands.

In 2020, the Wolastoqey Nation, a subset of the larger Mi'kmaw Nation, also filed a title claim to more than 50,000 square kilometres in the province, which they claim as their traditional lands. This claim was updated in 2021 to demand compensation from corporations operating on about 20% of the land, as well as from the Crown for allowing the development.

The New Brunswick government has been accused of irresponsibility in its attempts to protect private landowners from this claim. The government filed a motion to exclude 250,000 homeowners and businesses from the title claim, stating that hundreds of thousands of New Brunswickers are at risk of having their property impacted. However, the Wolastoqey Nation has consistently maintained that they are not seeking to displace people or affect their property rights.

The Mi'kmaw and Wolastoqey Nations' claims overlap, and both groups have stated that they are working together to resolve this issue.

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