Heritage Canada The National Trust Conference 2014 Charlottetown, PEI Dan Christmas, Senior Advisor October 3, 2014
Overview • Community of Membertou • Historical Background • Old King’s Road Reserve • Donald Marshall Jr. Case • Membertou’s Growth and Expansion • The Strength of Culture
Community of Membertou • We are an urban Mi’kmaw Community surrounded by 100,000 people in CBRM • Named after Grand Chief Membertou (1510 – 1611) • Unama’ki District of the Mi’kmaw Nation • One of 5 Mi’kmaw Communities in Cape Breton
Early Historical Background • Pre-contact, Sydney Harbour was the location of a seasonal Mi’kmaw Community • 1500’s: Basque frequented the Harbour • 1700’s: Relationships with the French at St. Anne’s Bay and Louisbourg • 1780’s: British loyalists began arriving in large numbers
Early Historical Background • 1832: Colonial government granted 2.3 acres to the Mi’kmaq along King’s Road • 1882: Federal Indian Affairs designated the land as an Indian Reserve • Became known as the King’s Road Reserve
The Community at King’s Road • 1901: Steel plant opened in Sydney; population tripled to 9,000 • Early 1900’s: Many Mi’kmaw moved to King’s Road for trade & employment • 1913: 122 Mi’kmaw lived in the Community; 27 homes with a school
The Community at King’s Road •
Forced Relocation • 1915: City of Sydney finally convinced Indian Affairs to call a judicial review to relocate the Community - J. A. Gillies, represented the City and himself; called 33 witnesses - 3 Mi’kmaw testified • 1916: The Court ordered the Community to relocate
New Home • Finding a new location was not easy • 1926: Indian Affairs purchased 65 acres • Only 1 km away from the King’s Road Reserve • 1929: Relocation was completed
Community of Membertou • New Community called Membertou • Community members continued to trade and work in the Sydney area • Traditional activities continued – hunting, fishing, trapping and harvesting • 1960’s: Highway 125 impacted traditional activities
Donald Marshall Jr.’s Arrest
Donald Marshall Jr. Case • May 1971: 17 year old Donald Marshall Jr. arrested & charged with murder • Nov. 1971: Sentenced to life imprisonment • 1982: New evidence; Released on parole • 1983: Acquitted by Appeal Court; blamed him as ‘the author of his own misfortune’
Marshall Inquiry • 1986 - 1989: Royal Commission on the Donald Marshall Jr. Prosecution • Commission found that ‘the criminal justice system failed Donald Marshall Jr. at every turn’ • ‘The fact that Marshall was a Native was a factor in his wrongful conviction and imprisonment’
1980 to the Present • In 34 years, on-reserve population has grown from 333 to 900 – almost 3x • Today, our total population is over 1,400 members both on & off reserve • Expanded from 65 acres to 1,000 acres • Built many new Community facilities and kilometers of new roads and services
1980 to the Present • Housing has grown from 65 to 346 houses • Since 2000: Added 109 new housing units • Since 2000: 30 new businesses & offices • Since 2000: Increased from 50 to 538 Membertou employees • Since 1994: Annual revenues from $4 million to $114 million
Membertou Trade & Convention Centre
Membertou Market
Entertainment Centre
Hampton Inn and Suites
Heritage Park
Heritage Park
New School
The Strength of Culture • King’s Road relocation and the Donald Marshall Jr.’s wrongful conviction were Community tragedies – racist events • How did Membertou work through them? • Traditional values are sources of strength • Love, Respect, Humility, Courage, Wisdom, Truth and Honesty
The Strength of Culture • Our Elders continue to live these values • 1990: NS Minister of Justice Tom McInnis apologized to the Marshall family and to the Community • 1999: CBRM Mayor David Muise apologized to the Elders for the King’s Road’s relocation • Apologies were accepted and Membertou moved on
Thank You • Comments? • Questions?
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