Abegweit First Nation

Open for business, open for truth

As a pipe carrier and sun dancer like his father before him, Chief Roderick Gould Jr. is guided by service to the people of Abegweit First Nation — a Mi’kmaq band whose lineage reaches back 10,000 years in Epekwitk (Prince Edward Island).

Chief Gould is passionate about creating a thriving, vibrant future for Abegweit, which includes the Morell, Rocky Point and Scotchfort reserves — a future that aligns with the community’s culture and that respects their traditions and beliefs. And he believes the Government of Canada’s reconciliation efforts will allow for their equal participation in the mainstream economy, leading to economic independence and self-sufficiency for Abegweit.

“First Nation people are wards of the state,” explains Chief Gould. “The Indian Act dictates what our people can and cannot do. Unemployment, lack of freedom to create private-sector businesses within the community, limitations on land development — all are realities for First Nation communities.”

But Chief Gould and his Council are working to create new realities. And one of the ways they’re looking to inject much-needed economic stability and sustainability in their community is with the recent construction of a 6,500-square-foot multi-use commercial centre in Scotchfort.

As part of Abegweit’s 2018 Comprehensive Community Plan, the building will house several Band-owned businesses as well as a market, a commercial kitchen and an event space. It will also provide an authentic tourism experience, sharing Abegweit’s history and culture through storytelling and art.

“Abegweit is located on Route 2, a main artery of the P.E.I. highway system,” Chief Gould notes. “Over 5,000 vehicles drive by daily; and in peak tourism season, this increases to 12,000. The new infrastructure is the first part of Abegweit’s entry into the tourism market and will encourage business growth, deliver tourism activities and showcase the talents of our local artisans.”

Jessica Francis, 27, a local writer and artisan who has worked in Abegweit’s tourism and hospitality industry for more than a decade, agrees. “I am ecstatic to see how much potential this building holds for bringing not only our community together but the surrounding community as well. With Abegweit stepping into the tourism sector of P.E.I., it means big things. Job opportunities, publicity for our artisans and, most important, an opportunity for our people to learn about our culture.”

Chief Roderick Gould Jr.

The $3.7 million project is expected to create 24 jobs for Abegweit First Nation over the next five years. This will help the community, whose primary sources of employment have traditionally been fishing and agriculture, overcome employment challenges and create a culture of entrepreneurship — particularly among youth, many of whom were hired as part of the construction crew.

“The construction of the building brought hope and excitement to the community,” Chief Gould says. “This is positively impacting our youth, who are now seeing jobs in the community they may want to do. Even in the construction phase, our young people have been exposed to what is possible.”

In addition, many of the artisans expected to showcase and sell their art are younger members of the Abegweit community. For 29-year-old Riley James Bernard, Francis’ partner, the deeper ramifications around sharing his work as well his voice as an Abegweit artist are not lost on him.

“To me, artwork is a crucial way of expressing ourselves, teaching values and lessons. Many people are lost because they have not discovered an outlet for expressing themselves or a window through which to find themselves. With the addition of such a building to our community, we teach the youth that they are not alone and that their voices matter. We will be given a literal platform that allows our art and soul the chance to travel the world.”

The building will also be used to host public Band events such as Truth and Reconciliation Day. The Chief’s desire is that it will allow the people on P.E.I. to learn more about Abegweit First Nation and other Indigenous cultures.

“Achieving reconciliation and learning the truth starts with each one of us,” Chief Gould adds. “And this building will give the community space to share our truth. We will use the space to share our history, including residential schools, the ’60s scoop and other Canadian policies designed to eradicate our people.”

This project has also provided a more immediate incentive for the Band. One that will allow Abegweit to move closer to self-governance, resulting in more control over their land and resources.

“This new piece of infrastructure was the trigger for the Band to create an Economic Development Corporation and a Financial Law, and for it to participate in the process of developing our own Land Code, which will take the Band out of a large percentage of the Indian Act,” Chief Gould says.

The Chief and his Council also have plans to generate further economic opportunities such as the development of a cultural ground along the Hillsborough River, designated as part of the Canadian Heritage Rivers System. The land, recently gifted to Abegweit by the Province, features a monument that recognizes the Mi’kmaq contribution to P.E.I., along with the impact of the Irish, Scottish and Acadian people.

“Abegweit is expanding this area to tell the story of how we lived, worked and used the river,” Chief Gould says of their proposed self-guided, low-footprint experience. “This will include the construction of a long house, sweat lodges and sacred fire area, and will allow for tourism experiences, including Indigenous food offerings.”

The Chief’s hope is that this tourism experience, along with the ones that will be created at their new community centre, will help share Abegweit’s truths and continue the reconciliation process with Prince Edward Island and beyond.

Francis agrees. “This building brings hope, not only for me and the other artisans in the community, but for the new generations as well. This building will be a place they can be proud of and where they can learn that art is important for our culture, to see that people are willing to learn about us and accept the knowledge we give.”

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2023-06-20

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Abegweit First Nation

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