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Pre-history:
The Benoit Lnu'k/Mi'kmaq Community traces its history back to the Chego/Chegau/Shegone family, to Francois Benoit and Anne L'Official, and to a number of other Lnu'k/Mi'kmaq families who are the ancestors to most of the Benoit family of Lnu'k/Mi'kmaq in Taqamkuk. We are proud Benoit (eagle-Kitpu) clan. Other prominent family names in our community include Benoit, Young, Jesso, and Marche. We are status Indians under the provincial Qalipu Mi'kmaq First Nation Band.
Lnu'k/Mi'kmaq have always had a prominent presence in St. George's Bay (Baie St-George) and on Payun Aqq Payunji'j (the Port au Port Peninsula). Many of our Lnu'k/Mi'kmaq ancestors came from around Pitu'pa'q (Bras d'Or lakes) in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. We also have Beothuk connections. As a result of being pencilled out of the 1949 confederation with Canada, the M'kmaq were not registered and without official rights, the Native peoples of Newfoundland and Labrador came together to protect their rights and heritage, they formed the Native Association of Newfoundland and Labrador (NANL) in 1973. At that time the Cape St. George Indian Band was formed and under the umbrella group of the NANL, Elder Edna Benoit was the secretary of the band at that time. Adolph Benoit from Marches Point was the Chief. NANL later changed its name to the Federation of Newfoundland Indians (FNI) in 1976 after many of its Inuit and Innu members broke away from the group to form the Labrador Inuit Association and Naskapi Montagnais Innu Association (today the Innu Nation), respectively. Conne River also went their separate way. After Chief Adolph left the Cape St. George Indian Band, the band ceased to function. The FNI then became an exclusive club for exclusive areas and the Port au port Peninsula was shut out (west of Abrahams Cove) until pressured by Mi'kmaq activists including Benoit 1st Nation Chief Jasen Benwah to include them. The FNI did so only after being ordered to do so by Aboriginal Affairs - as was promised to us by the Feds that we would be included. In 2009 our families were registered and received our status cards as founding members of the Qalipu First Nation Mi'kmaq Band. The Benoit 1st Nation Mi'kmaw Band recognizes the Qalipu Mi'kmaq First Nation Saqamaw as our Taqamkuk Chief of the Taqamkukewa'q (Newfoundland Mi'kmaq) outside of Conne River. However Saqamaw Misel Joe of Conne River remains as our trational Chief of all of Newfoundland.
Disclaimer: Although we are supportive of regional cooperation, involvement, interaction, communication, sharing, and partnerships Benoit 1st Nation is a totally independant regional Mi'kmaq Band and is NOT controlled by, NOT funded NOR affiliated with Qalipu First Nation Mi'kmaq Band.
Our Mandate:
We will work to build our community and educate our children exposing them to our true history. "Glooscap and the great Creator teaches us to stay humble. Let them give you the wisdom of the ages and guide you on the path of respect and humility."
Saqamaw Jes'n Penwa'
We are a Regional Indigenous Cultural and Language Band. Our focus is cultural programming for our people.
