Righting Past Wrongs: Government of Canada Announces the Renaming of a Prince Edward Island Small Craft Harbour

From: Fisheries and Oceans Canada

News release

September 4, 2024

Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island - In support of the Government of Canada’s commitment to reconciliation, and at the request of the Prince Edward Island (PEI) Abegweit First Nation, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is renaming the small craft harbour at Savage Harbour, PEI.

From this day forward, Savage Harbour Small Craft Harbour will be known as “Crowbush Cove Wharf” Small Craft Harbour.

On National Indigenous Peoples Day 2022, Abegweit First Nation Chief Junior Gould asked that the names Savage Harbour and Savage Harbour Bay be changed, and invited community members outside of Abegweit to learn why the change was so important. In support of the Government of Canada’s commitment to reconciliation, and at Chief Gould’s request, DFO’s Small Craft Harbours (SCH) program has now proceeded with the renaming of its federal property.

DFO staff consulted with the Abegweit First Nation, worked with the Harbour Authority, which manages daily harbour operations, and heard from member harbour users, on renaming options for the federal harbour. The new name is the result of an engagement process undertaken by the Harbour Authority with harbour users. The name “Crowbush Cove Wharf” was chosen through a voting process.

DFO and the Canadian Coast Guard have a key role in the transformation of Canada’s relationship with Indigenous peoples. They recognize that fisheries, oceans, aquatic habitat and marine waterways are of great social, cultural, spiritual and economic importance to many Indigenous Peoples, and are committed to building renewed nation-to-nation, Inuit-Crown and government-to-government relationships with First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.

Quotes

“Today’s announcement symbolises our ongoing commitment to showing up as an equal partner with a desire to do better in our relationship with the Abegweit First Nation and beyond. I would like to thank the Harbour Authority at the newly named Crowbush Cove Wharf for engaging with Fisheries and Oceans Canada in this process. Together, let's keep moving forward on Reconciliation.”

The Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard

“On behalf of the Abegweit First Nation (AFN), I would like to thank the DFO for exercising their authority to address the long-standing name issue of “Savage Harbour “ in an expedited fashion. I would also like to thank the Harbour authority, the users, and the community for choosing a more respectful name. Working together to get things done is the real “Truth and Reconciliation” everyone else is only talking about. Wela'lioq.”

Junior Gould, Chief, Abegweit First Nation

Quick facts

  • Fisheries and Oceans Canada officials met with the Harbour Authority in spring 2024 to discuss changing the name of the small craft harbour facility at Savage Harbour.

  • As part of the engagement process, the Harbour Authority submitted Crowbush Cove Wharf as an option for a new name in June, 2024.  

  • The Abegweit First Nation is situated in the Scotchfort reserve, a few kilometers from the newly named Crowbush Cove Wharf, in eastern Queens County, PEI.

  • The area across the bay from the wharf has been known locally as Crowbush for decades.

Associated links

Contacts

Gabriel Bourget
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard
Gabriel.Bourget@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Media Relations
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
613-990-7537
Media.xncr@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

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