Micmacs of Gesgapegiag
Micmacs of Gesgapegiag are a Mi'gmaq First Nation in Quebec, Canada. Located on the south shore of the Gaspé Peninsula at the mouth of the Cascapédia River, where it widens into Chaleur Bay. Gesgapegiag is one of three Mi'kmaq reservations located in the Gaspe Peninsula. Traditionally its the seventh district of Mi’gma’gi known as Gespe’gewa’gi, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’gmaq.
In 2000, the three Mi’kmaw communities joined forces to form a political and administrative organization, the Mi'gmawei Mawiomi Secretariat, so as to offer shared services and forge ties with non-Indigenous partners, particularly in the fishing and forestry sectors.
History
The Mi’kmaq are among the most ancient Indigenous peoples of eastern North America, with archaeological evidence indicating that their ancestors have lived in the Atlantic region for more than 10,000 years. Their traditional territory, known as Mi’kma’ki, encompassed present-day Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, parts of Newfoundland, and the Gaspé Peninsula of Quebec. The region’s rivers, forests, and coastal waters provided the Mi’kmaq with an abundance of resources that supported their way of life.As a semi-nomadic people, the Mi’kmaq lived in harmony with the changing seasons. Summers were spent along the coasts, where fishing particularly for Atlantic salmon and cod was essential by utilizing their distinctive birch bark canoes that were capable of crossing open water. During the winter months, smaller family groups moved inland to hunt moose, caribou, and other game. Their profound understanding of the land and environment enabled them to adapt to the challenges of their rugged homeland with resilience, skill, and sustainability.
The reserve itself was legally established in the 1850s under colonial administration. At the time it was known as Indians of Maria and it was only until 1988 when the Department of Indian Affairs granted the reserve to be called its former name of Gesgapegiag. The original form of the name Cascapédia, meaning "where the river widens", in which the reserve is located next to.