August 14, 2019 Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island Parks Canada
Canada is home to some of the world’s last remaining wilderness. That’s why the government is working with Canadians across the country to double the amount of nature we protect in our land and oceans. The Hog Island Sandhills, is a chain of barrier islands which stretches 50 kilometres along the northwest coast of Prince Edward Island. The islands are the province’s last coastal wilderness. This Prince Edward Island landmark is one of the most significant coastal dune ecosystems in eastern Canada.
Today, the, Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, Catherine McKenna along with Chief Darlene Bernard, Lennox Island First Nation and Chief Junior Gould, Abegweit First Nation, announced a feasibility assessment to establish a national park reserve in the Hog Island Sandhills chain in northwestern Prince Edward Island.
The island chain is home to many species at risk like the Piping Plover, the Little Brown Bat, the Northern Long-eared Bat, and the Gypsy coo-coo bumblebee. Threatened bird species including the Bank Swallow, Canada Warbler and Common nighthawk are also found in The Hog Island Sandhills.
The Mi’kmaq of Prince Edward Island have a deep connection with the Hog Island Sandhills. They are home to an ancient and continuing Mi’kmaq land use tradition, important Mi’kmaq cultural and archaeological sites, as well as rare geological formations. The Mi’kmaq word for Hog Island is Pitaweikek (bee-Dah-wey-gek), which means tea broth place.
From coast to coast to coast, protecting the nature we love will not only protect our health and build resilient communities, it will also help mitigate the devastating impacts of climate change. A national park reserve in Prince Edward Island will preserve the Hog Island Sandhills, their cultural heritage and the wildlife that call them home.
