Burnt Church First Nation

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Burnt Church Band
motto =


imagesize =
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pushpin_mapsize = 200
pushpin_label_position = left
pushpin_map_caption = Location of Burnt Church in New Brunswick
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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = Canada
subdivision_type1 = Province
subdivision_name1 = New Brunswick
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Northumberland County
leader_title = Chief
leader_title1 = Council
leader_title2 = MP
leader_title3 = Provincial Representatives
leader_name = Joseph Wilbur Dedam
leader_name1 = Calvin Joseph Barnaby
Jason Dean Barnaby
Andrew Curtis Bartibogue
Joseph Christopher Bonnell
Chester Dedam
Clarke Duane Dedam
Everett Joseph Dedam
Irene Beatrice Dedam
Larry Isaac Dedam
Billy Jack Francis
Alvary Murray Paul
Colton L.T. Metallic
leader_name2 = Charles Hubbard (L)
Yvon Godin (NDP)

leader_name3 = Carmel Robichaud (L)
Hedard Albert (L)

established_title = Established
established_date = 1802
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 44.055
area_total_sq_mi =
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area_urban_km2 =
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population_as_of = 2007
population_note =
population_total = 1,600
population_footnotes = [http://www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/at/mp/pg14_e.html] , Indian and Northern Affairs, retrieved August 30, 2008.]
population_metro =
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timezone = Atlantic (AST)
utc_offset = -4
timezone_DST = ADT
utc_offset_DST = -3
latd=47|latm=11|lats=52.5|latNS=N
longd=65|longm=08|longs=53.7|longEW=W
elevation_m =
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elevation_min_m = 0
elevation_max_m =
blank_name = NTS Map
blank_info = 021P03
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footnotes = Postal code span:

Burnt Church Band or Burnt Church First Nation (Míkmaq: "Eskɨnuopitijk" or "Esgenoôpetitj") is a Mi'kmaq First Nation in New Brunswick, Canada, centred south of the community of Lagacéville (approximately 4.5 km) and southwest of the village of Neguac (approximately 7 km) on Miramichi Bay. It comprises about 1500 members, with two Indian reserves in Northumberland County (Burnt Church 14, and Tabusintac 9) and one reserve in Gloucester County (Pokemouche 13).

History

The lands at Burnt Church have long been occupied by First Nations peoples, likely long before European adventurers first explored the Atlantic Coast of Canada. As William Francis Ganong notes, "a map by Sieur I'Hermitte, ... shows there was a village here in 1727."The History of Neguac and Burnt Church. http://www.ahcn.ca/Histoire/ganong/neguac-bc.htm, retrieved August 30, 2008 ]

Ganong also comments on the origin of the name, noting that in 1758, during the Seven Years War, British General James Wolfe directed Colonel James Murray to destroy the French settlements at Miramichi. Thus, Murray destroyed an Acadian community which had been established at Burnt Church, including burning the first stone church built in New Brunswick (hence the name).

Burnt Church was a favorite resort of the Mi'kmaq and was, therefore, included in one of the very earliest Indian reserves set aside by New Brunswick. The reserve was officially established March 5, 1805, with 2,058 acres. At the time of Ganong's writing it was "still a favorite Micmac settlement, and much the largest in all New Brunswick"The History of Neguac and Burnt Church. http://www.ahcn.ca/Histoire/ganong/neguac-bc.htm, retrieved August 30, 2008] .

Following the Seven Years War, several Acadian families returned to lands adjoining the reserve. They were followed by a wave of new Scottish settlers. Thus, the Burnt Church name is now used in reference to both the local First Nation, and to the adjoining non-native community.

In recent years, Burnt Church First Nation members have militated strenuously for their traditional lobster fishing rights, culminating in the Burnt Church Crisis with the provincial and federal governments as well as local non-native fishermen.The Marshall Decision and the Maritime Canadian Fishery. http://www.rism.org/isg/dlp/bc/index.htm, retrieved August 30, 2008]

References