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Benoit First Nation |
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Pjila'si
(welcome), in 1972 under the local leadership of Adolph
Benoit of Marches Point; the Port au Port Peninsula was
part of the revival of the Mi’kmaq of St. George’s Bay.
The local representative included Edna Benoit, one of
the band elders, who at one point was Secretary and very
involved. With the disbanding of the Bay St. George
Regional Indian Band in the early 1980’s – this
signaled, for the community, the beginning of a long
period of local silence that was only reawakened in the
last couple of years. The Benoit First Nation was born
out of this necessity to provide local representation to
its people.
McAlpine's Directory of 1894 – 1898
of the area lists occupants with the surnames of Deman
(Damois), Jesso, Tourout, Simon, Benoit, Young, Lainey,
Carter, Paria (Porrier), Renouf, and
Chesson.
Penwa' Mawi-Amskwesewey L'nue'kati is
pronounced Ben-wah um-skoo wess-so-whey
ul-noo-eh-gut-dee and translates as Benoit First Nation
and is based on the South West side of the Port au Port
Peninsula, NL. The band office is located in De Grau;
incorporated in 2005 the Band Council is to be elected
every three years. The Band has democratic elections and
operates by majority rule, with traditional procedures
used as much as possible.
Another mandate of the
band is to reach out to other communities and
organizations in an atmosphere of peace, friendship, and
cooperation. The band will also work on a regional level
with the other bands in the spirit of unity and
cooperation.
The name Benoit in the band title
was chosen as a tribute to Francois Benoit and Anne
L’Official, Mi’kmaq ancestors of band members. Other
historic Mi’kmaq family names associated with the Band
include Young, Jesso, Marche and others.
The
Benoit First Nation consists of approximately 350
Mi’kmaq living on the Southwest side of the Port au Port
Peninsula with Red Brook as its centre. It includes
members primarily from De Grau, Red Brook, Marches
Point, Sheaves Cove, Lower Cove and
area.
Membership is open to those of documented
Mi’kmaq ancestry and based on criteria set forth by the
Federation of Newfoundland Indians. While not an
official band of the FNI our local band members have the
additional option of also joining the FNI general
membership list.
The executive consists of an
elected Chief, Vice-chief, Secretary and
Treasurer.
Council & Members include: Chief
Jasen Sylvester Benwah, Vice-chief Ronald Jesseau,
Secretary G. Ann Benoit, Treasurer Conrad Benoit, Elder
Representative Godfrey Benoit, Women Representative Mary
Young, and Youth Representative Holly Simon.
It
should be noted that in the band that elders have
special status as advisors, general members are welcomed
as observers at Band Council meetings, members are
encouraged to bring new ideas to the band council,
General Assemblies take place with the seasons
(quarterly), elections and referendums are conducted by
secret ballot, and there is a focus on cultural and
language revival. It is with this passion that the band
embraces the idea of a regional Pow-wow and is an active
member of the organizing committee. Welálin (thank
you).
Article submitted by Chief Jasen S. Benwah
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