Metepenagiag Heritage Park
Pjila'si - Welcome
Two National Historic Sites.
We the Mi’kmaq of Metepenagiag have lived in this place since time immemorial. We have always known this. It has been handed down to us through generations of oral history. Our people have lived on this land, a vibrant and spiritual life, and inseparable from Mother Earth.
We have fished and hunted, built vessels for transportation, traded to the far reaches of the earth, spoke our language, raised children, buried our dead and celebrated the new seasons with reverence and respect. We are a communal people – self sufficient, steady, proud. Through all adversity of time, we have endured.
It was in the 1970’s when two National Historic Sites were discovered.
When a company was planning to expand it’s gravel pit in our community, our beloved and respected Elder Joe Augustine remembered being told from his Elders before him, of an old burial ground in the area. He went to the site they described and found what was to become the Augustine Mound - a cemetery dating back to over 600 BC. The concept of preserving, protecting and presenting the rich Mi’kmaq culture is expressed by our Elder and lives on in our community.
In 1977 work began on another site founded by Elder Joe Augustine - the Oxbow, a deeply stratified village site called Metepenagiag. Situated at the head tide, Metepenagiag has had over 3,000 years of continuous settlements right to the present day.
The findings of these two archeological sites scientifically prove the ancient oral history we have always known, passed down through many generations.
This is our legacy and how two national historic sites came to be.
Elder Joe Augustine
Tour the Park
Take a walk through 30 centuries of Mi'kmaq culture. For over 3,000 years, our ancestors have stood above the ancestral grounds of the Mi'kmaq, overlooking the Oxbow National Historic Sites.
Book your Conference
Book your next business conference with us. We have 5 beautiful conference spaces that con accommodate anywhere from 5-50 people.
Visitor Centre Exhibits
Explore our Walking Trails
Metepenagiag Heritage Park
Discover Metepenagiag Heritage Park. Our state of the art facility offers a truly authentic aboriginal experience. We accommodate groups for self-guided tours, or for a more in-depth experience, book with one of our nationally certified heritage interpreters. As descendants of this ancient village, let us tell you our story as handed down to us by our ancestors about the life of the Mi’kmaq at Metepenagiag for over 3,000 years.
Indigenous Food
Follow along with Delightful Travellers as they visit various Aboriginal Tourism and cultural sites through Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. They learned a lot,, met some fantastic people and had fun cooking and trying Indigenous food for the first time. This video is in partnership with The Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC).
Travels by Train
Join Downielive as he travels with VIA Rail and explores the province of New Brunswick from every angle! A key segment of this video is a guided tour of Metepenagiag Heritage Park.
VISIT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL
Metepenagiag Heritage Park is an accredited business through Indigenous tourism.
Metepenagiag Heritage Park is an accredited business through Indigenous tourism.
OUR PARTNERS
Park Amenities
Accessible Facilities
Accessible Parking
Binoculars
Camping
Conference Rooms
Dark Sky Preserve
Gift Shop
Interpretation
Lodge
Look-offs
Ookdotaan
Parking
Pet Friendly
RV’s
Swallow Habitat
Tipis
Trails
Tubing
Visitor Centre
Washrooms
Wifi
Wood Turtle Habitat
Summer Hours
May 15 – October 15
Daily: 9am – 5pm
Winter Hours
October 16 – May 14
Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm
Camping
RV Campground Rentals / Campsite at $40 per night. Check in time before 5:00 pm. Reserve your space!
Conferences
You are welcome to book a visit or use our facility for conferences or meetings during the off season. Contact us and we will happily confirm details with you.
