Mi'kmaq Communities In New Brunswick: How Many?

The Mi'kmaq are a First Nations people indigenous to Canada's Atlantic provinces, including New Brunswick. There are 66,748 Mi'kmaq people in the region, with 10,098 on reserve and 7,412 off reserve in New Brunswick as of December 2023. Mi'kmaq communities in New Brunswick are asserting Aboriginal title to land in the province, with a claim that covers nearly all of the province and extends into offshore waters. This claim is based on the argument that the Mi'kmaq never ceded lands and waters under treaties signed by their ancestors. While the exact number of Mi'kmaq communities in New Brunswick is unclear, one source mentions nine, and another mentions eight, in addition to the Elsipogtog First Nation.

Mi'kmaq communities in New Brunswick are asserting Aboriginal title to land in the province

The Mi'kmaq are a First Nations people indigenous to Canada's Atlantic provinces, primarily Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland, as well as parts of Quebec and Maine. In 2023, there were 66,748 Mi'kmaq people in the region, with 9,245 speakers of the Mi'kmaq language.

In New Brunswick, there are 15 First Nations communities, with a population of over 16,000, mostly Mi'kmaq and Maliseet (also known as Wolastoqiyik). The Mi'kmaq communities in the province have been asserting their Aboriginal title to land, and in 2024, eight Mi'kmaq communities represented by Mi'gmawe'l Tplu'taqnn Inc. (MTI) circulated a map identifying the lands to which they say the Mi'kmaq Nation holds title.

The Mi'kmaq argue that they never ceded or gave up their land title or other rights through the Peace and Friendship Treaties signed with the British Crown during the eighteenth century. The 1999 Supreme Court of Canada decision in R v Marshall upheld the 1752 Peace and Friendship Treaty, which promised Indigenous Peoples the right to hunt and fish on their lands and establish trade.

The recent claim by the eight Mi'kmaq communities in New Brunswick represented by MTI covers nearly all of the province and even extends into offshore waters. This claim builds on a previous claim made in 2016 by the Elsipogtog First Nation, a Mi'kmaq community, which covered a third of the province. The new, expanded claim now includes all of New Brunswick under title claims, as it overlaps with the claim made by the Wolastoqey Nation in 2020.

The Mi'kmaq communities in New Brunswick are asserting their title to lands and waters in the province, stating that it is a step towards self-determination and full recognition of their rights. They seek to have a say in how their lands and waters are managed and governed, and while they are claiming title over the whole province, they are not seeking the return of private lands, only Crown lands and industrial freehold lands.

The New Brunswick government has been notified of the Mi'kmaq claims and is reviewing them. While there have been calls for the government to engage in meaningful discussions and negotiations, the outcome of these land claims remains to be seen.

Mi'kmaq communities in New Brunswick are represented by Mi'gmawe'l Tplu'taqnn Inc

The Mi'kmaq people are indigenous to Canada's Atlantic provinces, primarily Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland, as well as the Gaspé Peninsula of Quebec and the northeastern region of Maine. The Mi'kmaq population in these regions is around 66,748 as of 2023, with 9,245 speakers of the Mi'kmaq language according to the 2021 census.

In New Brunswick, the Mi'kmaq are one of the First Nations, along with the Maliseet (Wolastoqiyik) and the Passamaquoddy. The First Nations of New Brunswick, Canada number more than 16,000, with a more recent estimate from December 31, 2023, placing the number at approximately 17,510. The province is home to 32 Indian reserves, of which 18 are recognized as census subdivisions.

The Mi'kmaq communities in New Brunswick are represented by Migmawel Tplutaqnn Inc, an organisation that is currently constructing its website. The Mi'kmaq–Nova Scotia–Canada Tripartite Forum, established in 1997, has been instrumental in shaping relations between the Mi'kmaq, the provincial government of Nova Scotia, and the Canadian federal government.

The Mi'kmaq have a rich history and culture, with a traditional national territory named Miꞌkmaꞌki, which is divided into seven or eight districts, depending on the source. They have their own form of hieroglyphic writing, created by French Catholic missionary Chrestien Le Clerq in the 17th century, and an oral storytelling tradition that includes religious myths, legends, and folklore.

The Mi'kmaq have had a complex relationship with European settlers and their descendants. They signed a series of treaties, known as the Covenant Chain of Peace and Friendship Treaties, with the British Crown throughout the 18th century to maintain peaceful relations. However, conflicts and disputes over land and resources have persisted, with the Mi'kmaq asserting that they did not cede their land rights through these treaties.

Today, the Mi'kmaq continue to advocate for their rights and work towards reconciliation, and their communities in New Brunswick play an essential role in preserving and promoting their culture and heritage.

Mi'kmaq communities in New Brunswick are working with other Indigenous nations to resolve overlaps in their land claims

There are 15 First Nations communities in New Brunswick, Canada, with a population of over 16,000, mostly Miꞌkmaq and Maliseet (Wolastoqiyik).

Mi'kmaw communities in New Brunswick are working with other Indigenous nations to resolve overlaps in their land claims. The Mi'kmaw First Nations recently expanded their Aboriginal title claim to include almost all of New Brunswick, which, together with a previous claim by the Wolastoqey Nation, means that the entire province now falls under title claim.

The Mi'kmaw communities, represented by Mi'gmawe'l Tplu'taqnn Inc. (MTI), assert that they never ceded the lands and waters under treaties signed by their ancestors. They state that the Peace and Friendship Treaties were signed with the intention of having a say in how their lands and waters are managed.

The MTI group has acknowledged the overlap in the territory claimed by the Mi'kmaw and the Wolastoqiyik and has stated that any overlaps will be resolved among the Nations. The Six Chiefs of the Wolastoqey Nation have also confirmed that discussions are already underway between the respective leadership groups and that they are working towards a Wampum Agreement regarding the overlap area.

The Mi'kmaw communities are calling on the Government of New Brunswick to engage in meaningful discussions and negotiations around the recognition and implementation of Indigenous title. They are willing to go to court if the province is unwilling to participate in good faith negotiations.

Mi'kmaq communities in New Brunswick are seeking compensation from the Crown for the loss of use of private lands

The Miꞌkmaq people are indigenous to Canada's Atlantic provinces, primarily Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland, as well as the Gaspé Peninsula of Quebec and Native American regions in Maine. In 2023, there were 66,748 Miꞌkmaq people in the region, with 9,245 claiming to speak the Miꞌkmaq language.

The Miꞌkmaq, Maliseet, and Pasamaquoddy nations signed treaties with the British Crown throughout the eighteenth century, known as the Covenant Chain of Peace and Friendship Treaties. The first was signed in 1725, and the last in 1779. The Miꞌkmaq assert that they did not cede or give up their land title or other rights through these treaties.

In February 2023, Miꞌkmaq communities in New Brunswick asserted Aboriginal title to land in the province, building on a 2016 action by the Elsipogtog First Nation, a Miꞌkmaq community. This new claim represented the other eight Miꞌkmaq communities in the province.

The Miꞌkmaq communities are seeking compensation from the Crown for the loss of use of private lands. They are not seeking the return of private lands, but rather recognition of their ownership of Crown land and industrial freehold land in the province. Chief George Ginnish of Natoaganeg stated that "private landowners in New Brunswick need not worry" as they are "not looking at taking your homes, cottages, or properties".

The Miꞌkmaq communities are represented by Miꞌgmaweꞌl Tpluꞌtaqnn Inc. (MTI), which released a statement saying that this move is "another step in the process to reasserting jurisdiction over lands and waters within our territory. This is a step towards self-determination and full recognition of our rights".

The New Brunswick government has been notified of the Miꞌkmaq claims and is currently reviewing them. David Kelly, the communications officer for Aboriginal Affairs, stated that the province will address the Miꞌkmaq's position and consider how it implicates the current claim by the Wolastoqey Nation to land that overlaps with the Miꞌkmaq map area.

The Miꞌkmaq communities' assertion of title and their pursuit of compensation from the Crown for the loss of use of private lands demonstrate their ongoing efforts to protect their rights and seek recognition for their historical connection to the land.

Mi'kmaq communities in New Brunswick are asking the provincial government to engage in meaningful discussions about their land claims

The Mi'kmaq people are indigenous to the Canadian Atlantic provinces, primarily Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland, as well as the Gaspé Peninsula of Quebec and the northeastern region of Maine. There are 66,748 Mi'kmaq people in the region as of 2023, with 9,245 claiming to speak the Mi'kmaq language.

In New Brunswick, there are 15 First Nations communities, with a population of more than 16,000, mostly Mi'kmaq and Maliseet (Wolastoqiyik). The Mi'kmaq communities in the province are now asserting their Aboriginal title to the land, claiming that they never ceded the lands and waters through treaties. This claim covers nearly all of New Brunswick and even extends into offshore waters.

The Mi'kmaq communities in New Brunswick are represented by Mi'gmawe'l Tplu'taqnn Inc. (MTI), a group of eight Mi'kmaq communities that circulated a map identifying the lands to which they say the Mi'kmaq Nation holds title and governance rights. This move is intended to put the government on notice and initiate meaningful discussions about their land claims.

Chief Bill Ward of Metepenagiag has stated that if the provincial government is "unwilling to have meaningful discussions around our Mi'gmaq title, MTI will explore other options for recognition, which could include going to court." MTI has already asked the province to negotiate and is optimistic that both the federal and provincial governments will enter into good-faith negotiations.

The provincial government has acknowledged the Mi'kmaq claims and stated that they will address the issue in due course, considering the implications for current claims by the Wolastoqey Nation to land within the Mi'kmaq map area. The Wolastoqey Nation's claim is based on their Peace and Friendship Treaty from 1725/1726, which acknowledged their title to the land.

The Mi'kmaq communities' assertion of their Aboriginal title is a significant development, and it remains to be seen how the provincial and federal governments will respond to their call for meaningful discussions and recognition of their rights.

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