Page 10 - Giv'er Miramichi magazine - Summer 2019

Remembering the Summer of 1965!

350th Anniversary of Fortress Ste-Croix in Miramichi

This year marks the 350th Mi’gmaq shared essential knowledge Brook”, or Ruisseau de Mission. Many
anniversary of the establishment of and goods with these new arrivals. modern historians point to the
Fortress Ste-Croix on the Northwest Recognition will also be given to indications made on the map as being
branch of the Miramichi, in 1669 by Franciscan brothers, of the Recollet evidence of a mission station at or near
administrator, fur trader, and fisherman, this site.
Richard Denys. Le centre July 27-28 Re-enactment
scolaire/communautaire Carrefour weekend at Wilson’s point, focusing on
Beausoleil, in partnership with European and Indigenous life on the
Mi’gmawe’l Tplu’taqnn Incorporated Miramichi in the summer of 1685.
and the Friends of Beaubears Island, Several characters and scenes will be
plan to commemorate this event. presented by a local troupe of
Forteresse Sainte-Croix was built performers. A lecture series will feature
of large wooden stakes and cornered by Indigenous and Acadian speakers
four bastions. A 1685 map displayed a relating their stories of their interactions
flag-shaped marking over territory centuries ago.
above the former town of Newcastle, at On July 27 ferry service from
the foot of modern day Astle Street, Wilson’s Point to Beaubears Island will
which many take as an indication of a be available for guests to participate in
mission station and fort area. Indeed, a Medicine Walk, with a member of the
residents of the area still refer to it as Mi’gmaq community. On the afternoon
“Denys Point”, and the vantage of July 28, a “Commemoration of the
provided there does appear to be of Deportation” will be held, and will
considerable strategic value. include songs, reflection as well as acts
This commemoration will be an of remembrance.
opportunity to delve deeper into the pre- The organizers hope this project
European history of Beaubears Island, Contemplating history on Beaubears Island, can be seen as having a larger cultural,
Quoomeneegook, (Island of the Pines).
by gaining a greater appreciation of its importance that transcends a re-
indigenous past as Quoomeneegook, or enactment in showing different cultures
‘island of the pines’. The Mi'gmaq branch, who established a mission on working and living together. In showing
used Quoomeneegook as a meeting and the Southwest Miramichi and handed how these two groups grew as a
resource-gathering site. The project will on maps and primary accounts of the community, and affected and
also acknowledge the essential role area in the 17th century. A 1686 map by transformed each other’s awareness of
played by the Mi’gmaq people in the cartographer Jean-Baptiste-Louis the world, it is intended to take a
survival of Denys and his employees. Franquelin identifies the modern historic episode and let it speak to the
Contemporary writings tell of how Carding Mill Brook as “Mission present day.

10 www.GiverMiramichi.com Summer 2019