Land Return Project Doubles Area Cared for by Mi’kmaq Nation

BRIDGEWATER, MAINE — A new land return project has doubled the amount of land owned and stewarded by the Mi’kmaq Nation. 

The 3,400-acre property, which contains forests, wetlands and more than three miles of North Whitney Brook, is known locally for its brook trout. The land also includes several miles of a former railroad bed that connects state-owned portions of the Bangor & Aroostook Multi-Use Trail. The Nation will maintain the current public ATV, snowmobile, bicycle, and pedestrian access to the trail. 

“It is so exciting to be part of this land return, and we are so grateful to all those that made this happen,” said Shannon Hill, Environmental Health Director for the Mi’kmaq Nation. “It is truly amazing there are organizations and non-native individuals out there that care and recognize the importance of these Tribal land returns. We will be forever humbled they entrusted the stewardship of this land to us.” 

Located in Bridgewater, not far from the Nation’s cemetery, the land is now recognized as Mesgilg Maqamigew, which translates in English to “big land.” It is situated between Houlton/Littleton and Presque Isle/Caribou, two of the largest populations of Mi’kmaq citizens. It is now one of the most accessible natural areas owned by the Nation. 

“Alongside the deeply meaningful celebration of the return of Mi’kmaq care to Mesgilg Maqamigew, we are celebrating the teamwork of the First Light community who, when seeing how much this project mattered to the Nation and Wabanaki people, all worked together to secure this parcel and fully fund it over a year ahead of schedule,” said Brett Ciccotelli, First Light’s core staff member who focuses on land return. 

This is the sixth completed project in the Tributary Land Returns — a collaboration between the five federally recognized Wabanaki Tribes and seven non-native organizations — to return over 50,000 acres to Wabanaki communities across 11 different projects. The Tributary Land Returns are one of the largest returns of private land in the history of the United States and are driven by grassroots efforts. 

This set of projects was affirmed by the Wabanaki Commission on Land and Stewardship, which also supports Wabanaki citizens, nonprofits, and Tribal Governments in caring for these lands through the Wolankeyutomone Kisi Apaciyewik Fund (“Let us take good care of what has returned”).  

“Indigenous land return projects are a cornerstone of our conservation efforts,” said Tom Duffus, vice president and Northeast representative for The Conservation Fund. “I’m thrilled that this special place is once again managed by the Mi’kmaq Nation, whose citizens have stewarded this landscape since time immemorial.” 

For eight years, the Wabanaki Commission and First Light, a group of non-native, land-based organizations, have worked in close partnership to transform conservation, build trust, and return land. “The collaborations between Wabanaki Nations and the First Light community have been nothing short of an extraordinary accomplishment for both our Tribal Nations and the land-based organizations in what we call Maine,” said Darren Ranco, PhD, a Penobscot Nation citizen who serves as the Commission’s executive director. 

“For decades the Mi’kmaq citizens have seen their traditional hunting and gathering grounds disappear to development or private ownership not allowing access,” said Mi’kmaq Chief Sheila McCormack. “This property will give our people a place for outdoor recreation, a place to teach our children how to hunt and fish, and a place we can pass down the traditions of our ancestors before they are forgotten.” 

This project would not have succeeded without the mutual trust between the Mi’kmaq Nation and the First Light community, including project support from The Conservation Fund along with generous partner funding from The Nature Conservancy of Maine, Maine Coast Heritage Trust, and support from the Sewall Foundation, Maine Community Foundation, and the Solidaire Network. 

Media contact: 
Shannon Hill, shill@micmac-nsn.gov, Mi’kmaq Nation Environmental Director