Burnt Church Band | |
---|---|
Location of Burnt Church in New Brunswick | |
Coordinates: 47°11′52.5″N 65°08′53.7″W / 47.197917°N 65.148250°WCoordinates: 47°11′52.5″N 65°08′53.7″W / 47.197917°N 65.148250°W | |
Country | Canada |
Province | New Brunswick |
County | Northumberland County |
Established | 1802 |
Government | |
• Chief | Alvery Paul |
• Council |
List of Members
|
• MP |
Patrick Finnigan (L) Yvon Godin (NDP) |
• Provincial Representatives |
Lisa Harris (L) Hedard Albert (L) |
Area | |
• Total | 44.055 km2 (17.010 sq mi) |
Lowest elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
Population (2011) | |
• Total | 1,715 |
Time zone | Atlantic (AST) (UTC-4) |
• Summer (DST) | ADT (UTC-3) |
NTS Map | 021P03 |
Postal code span: |
Burnt Church Band or Burnt Church First Nation (Míkmaq: Eskɨnuopitijk or Esgenoôpetitj) is a Mi'kmaq First Nation band government 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 covers two Indian reserves in Northumberland County (Esgenoôpetitj 14, previously Burnt Church 14, and Tabusintac 9) and two reserves in Gloucester County (Pokemouche 13) (Pabineau). The population was 1,715 as of 2011. The Mi'kmaq called Burnt Church by the name of Eskĭnwŏb'ǔdĭch which meant "a lookout".
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."
Ganong also comments on the origin of the name, noting that in 1758, during the Gulf of St. Lawrence Campaign (1758), 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). (The British also deported the Acadians across the river at Bay du Vin, New Brunswick.)