Eel Ground First Nation

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Eel Ground Band
motto =


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pushpin_mapsize = 200
pushpin_label_position = left
pushpin_map_caption = Location of Eel Ground 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 = George Harold Ginnish
leader_name1 = Joseph Ward
Roger Joseph Augustine
Emerson Joseph Francis
Wilfred Ward
Wallace Francis
Joseph Kenneth Larry
Gail Larry Hanifan
Kris Francis McKay
leader_name2 = Charles Hubbard (L)
leader_name3 = Rick Brewer (L)
John W. Foran (L)

established_title = Established
established_date = 1783
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 28.23
area_total_sq_mi =
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area_urban_km2 =
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population_as_of = 2007
population_note =
population_total = 886
population_footnotes = [http://www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/at/mp/pg14_e.html] , Indian and Northern Affairs, retrieved August 30, 2008.]
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timezone = Atlantic (AST)
utc_offset = -4
timezone_DST = ADT
utc_offset_DST = -3
latd=46|latm=58|lats=9.2|latNS=N
longd=65|longm=37|longs=38.2|longEW=W
elevation_m =
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elevation_min_m = 0
elevation_max_m =
blank_name = NTS Map
blank_info = 021I13
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website = http://www.eelgroundfirstnation.com/
footnotes = Postal code span:

The Eel Ground Band or Eel Ground First Nation is a Mi'kmaq First Nations community of about 800 people located on the Miramichi River in northern New Brunswick, Canada. The community comprises three reserves (Eel Ground #2, Big Hole Tract # 8 (south half), and Renous #12). [http://eelgroundschool.ca/leaders/ourcomm.html Eel Ground First Nation]

History

Eel Ground principally occupies lands adjoining the City of Miramichi, New Brunswick, and members of the two communities have no doubt interacted from the time of earliest European settlement. About 1648, Nicolas Denys, Sieur de Fronsac, established a fort and trading post nearby, "on the North side of the Miramichi, at the forks of the river". His son, Richard Denys, was placed in charge of the fort and trading post. In 1688 Richard describes the establishment as including about a dozen French and more than 500 Indians. [English, E.J. (2002) Nelson and its Neighbours: 300 years on the Miramichi, 2nd Ed., Earl J. English, Miramichi] [Davidson, W.H. (1947) An account of the life of William Davidson, otherwise John Godsman, of Banffshire and Aberdeenshire in Scotland and Miramichi in British North America. Publ. New Brunswick Museum, Historical Studies No. 6.] [Davidson, W.H. (1966) William Davidson 1740-1790. Noth Shore Leader, Newcastle] [Beaubear's Island National Historic Site http://www.breadnmolasses.com/2004/atlanticarts/id73.html] .

The Band was officially recognised by the British in 1783, soon after the French defeat in the Seven Years War [http://www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/at/mp/pg14_e.html] , Indian and Northern Affairs, retrieved August 30, 2008.] .

No doubt the First Nation population had long preceded Denys' "establishment", and present-day inhabitants of Eel Ground would largely be descended from Richard Denys' immediate neighbours. For the Mi'kmaq, the nearby junction of the Northwest and Main Southwest branches of the Miramichi River had long served as a natural meeting point.

Prominent Citizens Past & Present

*Thomas Barnaby - Chief (1888-1894)

External links

* [http://eelgroundschool.ca/leaders/ourcomm.html Eel Ground First Nation]

References