Membertou 28b, Nova Scotia
Encyclopedia
The Membertou First Nation is a Mi'kmaq
First Nation located in the tribal district of Unamaki, also known as Cape Breton Island
, Nova Scotia
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The Membertou First Nation administers the following reserves:
Membertou is mostly an urban First Nation community consisting of over 1050 people. Named after the Grand Chief Henri Membertou
(1510-1611) the Membertou First Nation belongs to the greater tribal group of the Mi'kmaq Nation.
Membertou was not always situated at its present location. Many years ago, Membertou (formally known as the Kings Road Reserve) was located just off of Kings Road, along the Sydney Harbor. In 1916, the Exchequer Court of Canada ordered the relocation of the 125 Mi’kmaq; the first time an aboriginal community had been legally forced through the courts to relocate in Canadian history. In 1926, the Membertou Community was officially moved to its present day location in the vicinity of Mira Road, Nova Scotia
.
Membertou First Nation has been successful in diversifying its economy, featuring a convention centre, gaming centre, gas bar, business centre and other investments within the community. The most recent new addition is a hotel due for completion in 2011.
Mi'kmaq
The Míkmaq are a First Nations people, indigenous to the northeastern region of New England, Canada's Atlantic Provinces, and the Gaspé Peninsula of Quebec. The nation has a population of about 40,000 , of whom nearly 9,100 speak the Míkmaq language...
First Nation located in the tribal district of Unamaki, also known as Cape Breton Island
Cape Breton Island
Cape Breton Island is an island on the Atlantic coast of North America. It likely corresponds to the word Breton, the French demonym for Brittany....
, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
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The Membertou First Nation administers the following reserves:
- Sydney 28ASydney 28A, Nova ScotiaSydney 28A is a Mi'kmaq reserve located in Cape Breton County, Nova Scotia.It is administratively part of the Membertou First Nation....
, in the north end of SydneySydney, Nova ScotiaSydney is a Canadian urban community in the province of Nova Scotia. It is situated on the east coast of Cape Breton Island and is administratively part of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality....
, adjacent to the former CFS SydneyCFS SydneyCanadian Forces Station Sydney, also known as CFS Sydney, is a former Canadian Forces Station located in the community of Lingan Road, Nova Scotia.It was operational as a Pinetree Line radar station from April 1954 to January 1991.-RCAF Station Sydney:... - Membertou 28BMembertou 28B, Nova ScotiaMembertou 28B is a Mi'kmaq reserve located in Cape Breton County, Nova Scotia.It is administratively part of the Membertou First Nation....
, in the south end of SydneySydney, Nova ScotiaSydney is a Canadian urban community in the province of Nova Scotia. It is situated on the east coast of Cape Breton Island and is administratively part of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality....
off Mira Road - Caribou Marsh 29Caribou Marsh 29, Nova ScotiaCaribou Marsh 29 is a Mi'kmaq reserve located in Cape Breton County, Nova Scotia.It is administratively part of the Membertou First Nation....
- Malagawatch 4Malagawatch 4, Nova ScotiaMalagawatch 4 is a Mi'kmaq reserve located in Inverness County, Nova Scotia.It is administered jointly by the following First Nations governments, each of which is responsible for 1/5 of the territory and inhabitants:* Waycobah First Nation...
(1/5 share)
Membertou is mostly an urban First Nation community consisting of over 1050 people. Named after the Grand Chief Henri Membertou
Henri Membertou
Henri Membertou was the sakmow of the Mi'kmaq First Nations tribe situated near Port Royal, site of the first French settlement in Acadia, present-day Nova Scotia, Canada. Originally sakmow of the Kespukwitk district, he was appointed as Grand Chief by the sakmowk of the other six districts.His...
(1510-1611) the Membertou First Nation belongs to the greater tribal group of the Mi'kmaq Nation.
Membertou was not always situated at its present location. Many years ago, Membertou (formally known as the Kings Road Reserve) was located just off of Kings Road, along the Sydney Harbor. In 1916, the Exchequer Court of Canada ordered the relocation of the 125 Mi’kmaq; the first time an aboriginal community had been legally forced through the courts to relocate in Canadian history. In 1926, the Membertou Community was officially moved to its present day location in the vicinity of Mira Road, Nova Scotia
Mira Road, Nova Scotia
Mira Road is a community in Nova Scotia's Cape Breton County.Located immediately east of Sydney, and now joined with Sydney as part of Cape Breton Regional Municipality, Mira Road was originally built in the 18th century by French military forces from Fortress Louisbourg...
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Membertou First Nation has been successful in diversifying its economy, featuring a convention centre, gaming centre, gas bar, business centre and other investments within the community. The most recent new addition is a hotel due for completion in 2011.
See also
- Lawrence PaulLawrence PaulLawrence Paul was a Canadian Mi'kmaq leader and First Nations activist. Paul served as the chief of the Membertou First Nation of Nova Scotia from 1967 to 1969. Paul also co-founded the Union of Nova Scotia Indians....
- former chief of the Membertou First Nation - Donald Marshall, Jr.Donald Marshall, Jr.Donald Marshall, Jr. was a Mi'kmaq man who was wrongly convicted of murder. The case inspired a number of disturbing questions about the fairness of the Canadian justice system, especially given that Marshall was an Aboriginal; as the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation put it, "The name Donald...
- noted Mi'kmaq activist