Cabinet visit highlights growth and partnership at Abegweit First Nation
Provincial Cabinet met with Abegweit First Nation leadership in Scotchfort today to discuss shared priorities, community growth and opportunities to continue working together.
During the visit, Premier Rob Lantz announced $20,000 in provincial funding, through the Indigenous Relations Secretariat, to support Abegweit First Nation as it develops its next five-year strategic plan. The Abegweit-led plan will identify community priorities and help guide future development.
Abegweit’s previous 2020–2025 strategic plan identified social, economic and environmental priorities and helped guide growth and development in the community.
Cabinet members also toured recent and ongoing developments in Scotchfort and heard directly from Chief Junior Gould and community leadership about Abegweit’s priorities for the years ahead.
“There is a great deal of exciting work underway in Abegweit, and it was meaningful for Cabinet to witness that progress firsthand and hear directly from Chief Gould and community leaders about their goals for the future. We value the strong partnership we have built with Abegweit First Nation and are proud to support the community as it continues to grow and thrive. Together, we will keep building on this progress and advancing reconciliation,”
- Premier Rob Lantz
Recent development in Abegweit has included new housing, active transportation infrastructure and community facilities, with further work planned in areas including recreation, health and economic development.
"The growth at Abegweit First Nation is more than building infrastructure, it’s about creating opportunities for our people and building a stronger future right here at home. Having government leaders seeing this progress firsthand, helps them to understand what it means our community, the people who call it home and the positive contribution Abegweit makes to the Province of Prince Edward Island,” said Chief of Abegweit First Nation Junior Gould.
Quick facts:
- Abegweit First Nation’s 2020–2025 strategic plan focused on social, economic and environmental priorities and sustainable community development.
- In 2024, the Government of Prince Edward Island committed $8 million toward the Abegweit Community Recreation Centre, alongside a $9 million investment from the Government of Canada. The new recreation centre is planned as a net-zero facility connected to Abegweit Connects, with space for recreation, Mawi’omi celebrations, regional events and Mi’kmaw culture and language. It will also serve as a warming and cooling centre for the region during extreme weather events.
- Other community development underway or planned includes a new health centre and cultural and active transportation along the Hillsborough River.
Find out more about Abegweit First Nation.
Boilerplate:
Abegweit First Nation is a proud Mi’kmaq Band that traces its roots to Epekwitk (Prince Edward Island), dating back 10,000 years according to oral tradition and archaeological evidence. The official creation of the Abegweit First Nation occurred on March 7th, 1972. Originally, all Mi’kmaq on Epekwitk were a part of one band, the Lennox Island First Nation. The formation of a new Band was proposed as a means of better serving the needs of community members in Eastern PEI, a fair distance from the Lennox Island reserve in Western PEI. An overwhelming majority voted in favour of forming a new Band and Abegweit First Nation was formed. It is comprised of the Morell, Rocky Point, and Scotchfort reserves.
Media Contacts:
Nicole Yeba
Executive Council Office
ntyeba@gov.pe.ca
Olive Crane
Director of Intergovernmental Affairs and Strategic Planning
Abegweit First Nation
omcrane@abegweit.ca