July 4, 2024                       Lennox Island, Prince Edward Island           Parks Canada

Today, Mi’kmawey Kapmnt Ta’n Nikana’tu’tij Epekwitnewaq Mi’kmaw-Saqmaq — the Mi’kmaw Nation Government of Prince Edward Island, as represented by the Prince Edward Island Chiefs, Chief Darlene Bernard of Lennox Island First Nation and Chief Junior Gould of Abegweit First Nation, and the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, announced that they have reached an agreement to establish a new national park reserve on the northwestern shores of Epekwitk (Prince Edward Island).

Comprised of a chain of barrier islands in northwestern P.E.I., the lands of Pituamkek (bee-DOO-um-gek) form one of the most ecologically significant coastal dune ecosystems in eastern Canada and hold great cultural and historical significance for the Epekwitnewaq Mi’kmaq, the Mi’kmaq of Epekwitk, and residents of P.E.I.

In addition to its ecological and cultural importance, the archipelago also serves a critical function in helping mitigate the impacts of extreme weather events on coastal communities, as seen during Hurricane Fiona. 

This agreement demonstrates the mutual commitment of the Government of Canada and the Mi’kmaq Epekwitnewaq Kapmntemuow, the Mi’kmaq Nation Government of Epekwitk, to establish long-term protection for this magnificent place.

Pituamkek, which means “At the Long Sand Dune”, is home to ancient and continuing Mi’kmaw land-use traditions, important cultural and archaeological sites, rare and sensitive ecosystems, and unique geological formations. Pituamkek is a place of remarkable natural beauty due to its coastal dune systems, old-growth forests, and Prince Edward Island’s only igneous rock incursion.

The Establishment Agreement, formalized by the Mi’kmaq Epekwitnewaq Kapmntemuow and the Government of Canada, lays out key elements of the future park reserve, such as a co-management governance model, guardian programming, community-based employment opportunities, and commitments for net-zero, climate smart infrastructure development.

This agreement builds on the Government of Canada’s commitment to reconciliation with Indigenous peoples and a renewed government-to-government relationship with the Epekwitnewaq Mi’kmaq. Working together, the Government of Canada and the Mi’kmaq Epekwitnewaq Kapmntemuow are taking action to protect this iconic natural and cultural landscape for future generations.

The work on assembling the park reserve lands is an ongoing partnership between L‘nuey, Parks Canada, Island Nature Trust, the Nature Conservancy of Canada, and the Province of Prince Edward Island who have all been major contributors to the process. The Mi’kmaq Epekwitnewaq Kapmntemuow has led the way in initiating and continuously advocating for the establishment of Pituamkek National Park Reserve since the beginning of this process in 2006.

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