Paqꞌtnkek First Nation Explained

Paqtnkek Mi’kmaw Nation (pronounced buck-n-keg)^[1] is a Mi'kmaq Band in northeastern Nova Scotia. Its populated reserve is Paqtnkek-Niktuek 23. As of December 2019 the total registered population was 598.^[2] It is a member of the Confederacy of Mainland Mi'kmaq. The name Paqtnkek means “by the bay”^[3] or "Above the water (but at a distance from the ocean)".^[4] The area has long been important to Mi'kmaq for the fishing of eel and other species.^[5]

Bayside Travel Centre

The lands of the First Nation were divided in 1960 with the building of the Trans-Canada Highway, making access to some parts difficult. In 2017 an agreement was reached with federal and provincial governments to build a new interchange,^[6] which opened in 2019.^[7] The band's business arm, Bayside Development Corporation Limited was incorporated in 2018 and its shares are held in trust for the benefit of Paqtnkek.^[8] It operates Bayside Travel Centre at exit 36-B on Nova Scotia Highway 104 which includes fuel service, convenience store, restaurants, a Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation agency store, entertainment centre and a visitor information centre with cultural displays.^[9] It opened in October 2019.^[10]

Reserves

Paq'tnkek First Nation has three reserves:

	Reserve	Area^[11]	Location	Population	Date established^[12]
Franklin Manor 22 (48% share)		32 km. southeast of Amherst	0	March 3, 1865
		24 km. east of Antigonish	353^[13]	March 3, 1820
		18 km. east of Antigonish	0	August 28, 1990

See also

• List of Indian Reserves in Nova Scotia
• List of Indian Reserves in Canada

External links

• Paq'tnkek First Nation website
• Bayside Development Corporation, the business arm of Paqtnkek Mi’kmaw Nation

Further reading

• The Epic Fight Over the Enigmatic Eel
• Ethnogenesis or Cultural Interference? Catholic Missionaries and the Micmac - Christian Kauder's work for the band in the 1850s and 60s.
• Customary Food, Feasting and Legal Identities at Paq’tnkek First Nation - A Bachelor's thesis

45.6016°N -61.7383°W

Notes and References

1. News: Leeder . Jessica . Divided by a highway, a Mi’kmaq nation paves its road to revival in Nova Scotia . 2 January 2020 . . February 26, 2018.
2. Web site: Paqtnkek Mi'kmaw Nation . . Government of Canada . 1 January 2020.
3. Web site: Coastal Nova Scotia - Paq'tnkek First Nations Traditional Powwow . www.coastalnovascotia.ca . Coastal Nova Scotia . 5 January 2020 . en-CA.
4. Web site: Mi'kmaw Place Names Digital Atlas . 5 January 2020.
5. Davis . Anthony A. . Wagner . John . Prosper . Kerry . Paulette . Mary Jane . The Paq'tnkek Mi'kmaq and Ka't (American Eel): A Case Study of Cultural relations, Meanings and Prospects . The Canadian Journal of Native Studies . 2004 . 24 . 2 . 5 January 2020.
6. News: Smith . Emma . First Nation cut off from half its land for 50 years hopes to get access again . 2 January 2020 . . 5 June 2017.
7. News: Highway interchange gives Paqtnkek Mi'kmaw Nation access to cut-off land . 2 January 2020 . . January 15, 2019.
8. Web site: Bayside Corporate . 1 January 2020.
9. Web site: Bayside Travel Centre . Bayside Corporate . 1 January 2020.
10. News: Lowthers . Drake . Bayside Travel Centre gets boost from federal government . 1 January 2020 . Port Hawkesbury Reporter . 28 August 2019.
11. Web site: Paqtnkek Mi'kmaw Nation . 1 January 2020 . . Government of Canada . 2019-09-26 .
12. Web site: Mi'kmaw Bands in Nova Scotia . Cape Breton University . 1 January 2020 . en-CA.
13. Web site: Pomquet And Afton 23, Indian reserve [Census subdivision] ]. Census Profile, 2016 Census . . 1 January 2020.