Merigomish Harbour 31, Pictou County

In 1849, the Commissioner of Crown Lands set aside the two islands (marked A and B on CLSR plan T1195) at the entrance of Merigomish Harbour for the use of the Mi’kmaq people. In 1960, an Order in Council officially established Merigomish Harbour I.R. No 31 as Reserve lands set aside for the Pictou Landing Band after the Nova Scotia Micmac Band split into eleven separate Bands.

On CLSR plan T1195 (a surveyed tracing of an original plan being plan NS31 created in 1899) the two islands are actually labeled as Mooley’s Island (also labeled as Pine Island on 1842 map), and Chapel Island. Also interesting that the surveyor chose to create this plan with north pointing down to the bottom of the image (an unconventional mapping practice). 

This area has long been a spiritual home for the Mi’kmaq people, in 1835 construction of a small chapel started on the island, but was not fully completed until 1858. In 1891 a new building was started, but was destroyed by a storm in 1894 before it could be completed. The exterior of the existing church and floor were completed by 1897 when it was blessed by Bishop John Cameron.

The site became provincially designated as a heritage site in 1993 (with cemetery and glebe house also included in the heritage designation). Saint Anne’s Mission Church helps preserve the long history as the spiritual home for the Mi’kmaq of eastern mainland Nova Scotia. The Church still holds services, though not regularly, with a main service taking place annually during the Festival of St. Anne. Saint Anne is the patron saint of the Mi’kmaq people of eastern mainland Nova Scotia.