Culture & Heritage

The Culture and Heritage Department was formed in 2003 with a mandate to address outstanding issues and concerns relating to the recognition of Aboriginal and Treaty Rights within the province of Prince Edward Island. To achieve this, the department was tasked to document, review and transcribe historical records of traditional Mi'kmaq activities on PEI, such as: archaeological sites; Mi'kmaq camps or campsites; historical hunting, fishing, shellfish gathering, harvesting of crops or medicinal plants; traditional routes used in trading of goods or services, and so on. These would be used to inform future negotiations and discussion for the PEI Mi'kmaq.

The role of the department has since expanded. In addition to the above mentioned research, we are now also involved in several community activities. These range from reviewing PEI Department of Education Social Studies texts for accurate portrayals of Mi'kmaq history, to assisting various communities and businesses in the creation of Mi'kmaq heritage displays. Another project the department has almost completed is one undertaken in conjunction with Parks Canada. This involved the collection, translation and placing into cultural context of Mi'kmaq place names on PEI. As can be seen in the small sample on the following pages, they have found, and been able to map, many, many Mi'kmaq place names.