Lennox Island is a

Mi'kmaq The Mi'kmaq (also ''Mi'gmaq'', ''Lnu'', ''Miꞌkmaw'' or ''Miꞌgmaw''; ; ) are a First Nations people of the Northeastern Woodlands, indigenous to the areas of Canada's Atlantic Provinces and the Gaspé Peninsula of Quebec as well as the northe ...

First Nations First Nations or first peoples may refer to: * Indigenous peoples, for ethnic groups who are the earliest known inhabitants of an area. Indigenous groups *First Nations is commonly used to describe some Indigenous groups including: **First Natio ...

band government In Canada, an Indian band or band (french: bande indienne, link=no), sometimes referred to as a First Nation band (french: bande de la Première Nation, link=no) or simply a First Nation, is the basic unit of government for those peoples subjec ...

in the

Canadian province Within the geographical areas of Canada, the ten provinces and three territories are sub-national administrative divisions under the jurisdiction of the Canadian Constitution. In the 1867 Canadian Confederation, three provinces of British North ...

Prince Edward Island Prince Edward Island (PEI; ) is one of the thirteen Provinces and territories of Canada, provinces and territories of Canada. It is the smallest province in terms of land area and population, but the most densely populated. The island has seve ...

. Its only currently inhabited reserve is Lennox Island 1, on Lennox Island, purchased by the

Aborigines' Protection Society The Aborigines' Protection Society (APS) was an international human rights organisation founded in 1837,
...

on behalf of the Mi'kmaq of Prince Edward Island in 1870 or 1878. The population on reserve is approximately 450. In 2005 the population was 320 on reserve and 720 off reserve, with 60% of the population being younger than 35. The 2016 census counted 323 residents on reserve. The band has two other reserves, Lennox Island 5, located in East Bideford, and Lennox Island 6, located in Fernwood, both acquired in the 2000s.

History

The band government was originally known as "L'nui Minegoo" or the Indian/People's Island, and later known as the Lennox Island Reserve or the Lennox Island Band. It was named after Charles Lennox, Duke of Richmond, by Samuel Holland; surveyor. Original permanent inhabitants included Chief Francis Francis who resided there after the Mi'kmaq were displaced from Cortin Island. The Saint Ann Mission was later established on the island. In 1880, the Department of Indian Affairs reported that new houses and barns had been built on the island, and that a Superintendent and school teacher was instructing the community in agriculture. During the early 1890s, "Acting Chief" Joseph Francis, elected by a simple band majority, refused to resign when the son of the deceased "Chief" came to "the necessary age." James Yeo, a Liberal representative for Prince Edward Island in the

House of Commons of Canada The House of Commons of Canada (french: Chambre des communes du Canada) is the lower house of the Parliament of Canada. Together with the Crown and the Senate of Canada, they comprise the bicameral legislature of Canada. The House of Common ...

and a Lennox Island Land Commissioner, arranged for a justice of the peace to have Francis sworn in as "Chief of Prince Edward Island Micmac Indians," a lifetime appointment. John Thomas Sark, the son of the deceased "Chief," organized his own faction to challenge Yeo and Francis. The Dominion Department of Indian Affairs sought to integrate Lennox Island into a Canadian survey for mandated band electoral systems, culminating in an 1897 general election. During the 1890s campaigns, Sark likewise contended that any elections for "Chief" should be for "royal" lifetime tenure, thereby circumventing the proposed, and then mandated, triennial parameters. Since Prince Edward Island joined the

Canadian Confederation Canadian Confederation (french: Confédération canadienne, link=no) was the process by which three British North American provinces, the Province of Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick, were united into one federation called the Canada, Dom ...

in 1873, the Mi'kmaq band had been under the jurisdiction of the Dominion Department and the 1867 Indian Act of Canada. After 1873, the House of Assembly neither routinely deliberated, nor passed legislation for, Mi'kmaq peoples in the province. The role of Prince Edward Island "

amalgamation Amalgamation is the process of combining or uniting multiple entities into one form. Amalgamation, amalgam, and other derivatives may refer to: Mathematics and science * Amalgam (chemistry), the combination of mercury with another metal **Pan am ...

" debates and

hyperdescent Hyperdescent is the practice of classifying a child of mixed race ancestry in the more socially dominant of the parents' races. Hyperdescent is the opposite of hypodescent (the practice of classifying a child of mixed race ancestry in the more so ...

ideas on "universal" suffrage in this accelerated moment for Maritime Mi'kmaq band "modernities," both on and off the reserve, nevertheless remains a subject of scholarly inquiry. In 1972, for political and geographic reasons, a vote was held which decided to split reserves

Morell 2 Morell 2 is a Mi'kmaq reserve located in Kings County, Prince Edward Island. In the 2016 Census, the reserve has 22 residents. Morell 2 is located in the community of Green Meadows on the west bank of the Morell River, approximately south of ...

Rocky Point 3 Rocky Point 3 is a Mi'kmaq reserve located in Queens County, Prince Edward Island. In the 2016 Census, the reserve had 51 residents. Rocky Point 3 is located in the community of Rocky Point on the southwest shore of Charlottetown Harbour, app ...

, and

Scotchfort 4 Scotchfort 4 is a Mi'kmaq reserve located in Queens County, Prince Edward Island. In the 2016 Census, the reserve had 200 residents. Scotchfort 4 is located in the community of Scotchfort on the north bank of the Hillsborough River, approxim ...

from Lennox Island First Nation and form a new band government,

Abegweit First Nation Abegweit First Nation is a First Nations government originally known as the Lennox First Nation that is located on Prince Edward Island, Canada. The Abegweit First Nation is headquartered at Scotchfort, known as ''Skaqmk''. This is the location of ...

. In 1973, a bridge was built connecting Lennox Island to the rest of Prince Edward Island.

References

{{Coord, 46, 36, 39.1, N, 63, 51, 9.9, W, display=title Mi'kmaq governments Communities in Prince County, Prince Edward Island Mi'kmaq in Canada