Port au Port Indian Band
Pjila'si. Mi'kmaq originating from the Benoit family of the Southwest Port au Port Peninsula, Newfoundland, came together to create a grassroots Mi'kmaq Community organization in the 1970's.
Active Band Council members in Cape St George, NL.:
Councilor Josephine Benoit Simon
In 1972 under the local leadership of Chief Adolph Benoit, our community (Port au Port Indian Band) was part of the Bay St. George Regional Indian Band Council and the Native Association of Newfoundland that included the Conne River group, Innu and Innuit of Labrador. A year after that groups went their separate ways. Their regional council included Josephine Simon, Laverne Felix, Geraldine Jesso, Sylvester and Edna Benoit, who at one point was Secretary. She is mother of our present Chief Jasen Benwah and remained an Elder in our band until her passing into the spirit world on August 14, 2018.
Elder Edna May Benoit obituary
In the early 1980's the Bay St. George Regional Indian Band disbanded - breaking up into 4 smaller bands that became part of the Federation of Newfoundland Indians which had 10 bands but later expelled Bartlet's Harbour Indian Band for lack of documentation. For our communities (that includes Cape St. George) on the Port au Port Peninsula - this signaled the beginning of a long period of inactivity and abandonment, lack of leadership and local silence that was only reawakened in 2002 when local Mi'kmaw began the fight to be included into the FNI, was was resisted by the FNI leadership.
In 2004 after years of requests and correspondence, we were able to get a meeting with Aboriginal Affairs to discuss our wish to be included in the deal for recignition. They assured us that we will be included in the deal.
Because the reincarnated Port au Port Indian Band in Port au Port East did not include most of the Port au Port Peninsula and it's Mi'kmaq Communities, we first formed Kitpu 1st Nation (since disbanded), KMA (since disbanded). Benoit First Nation was formed out of the need for fair and reasonable representation, it was formed out of the void in our hearts that needed to be filled.
Copyright © Benoit First Nation
