May 25, 2022 Hay Settlement, New Brunswick Parks Canada Agency
The ancient village of Mehtawtik (Meductic) was the principal settlement of the Wəlastəkokewiyik from before the 17th century. It was located on the west bank of the Wəlastəkw (Saint John River) at the mouth of Hay Creek, west of the Eel River in what is now New Brunswick.
Today, Jenica Atwin, Member of Parliament for Fredericton, on behalf of the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, commemorated the national historic significance of Mehtawtik Village with a special ceremony to unveil a replacement plaque overlooking the site of the ancient village of Mehtawtik at 957, Route 165, Hay Settlement in New Brunswick. MP Atwin was joined by Chief Tim Paul of Woodstock First Nation and His Worship Arthur Slipp, Mayor of Woodstock. The site was initially commemorated in the early 1920s but the plaque disappeared in 2011.
Mehtawtik was valued by the Wəlastəkokewiyik for excellent hunting and fishing in the vicinity as well as its fertile soil. In the spring, the Wəlastəkokewiyik would regularly visit the area to plant corn, returning later in the year to harvest the crops. For families who gathered here, the harvest was an occasion for social, cultural, and spiritual activities.
During the colonial wars in the 17th century, the Wəlastəkokewiyik allied with the French and built a fortified earthworks at Mehtawtik for defense and protection. In the 1780s, the region fell under British control and Loyalists moved in, forcing the Wəlastəkokewiyik to leave and seek refuge elsewhere. Many were compelled to settle on a reserve in Lower Woodstock in 1851, even though they still considered Mehtawtik to be their home.
The Government of Canada, through the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada (HSMBC), recognizes significant people, places, and events that shaped our country as one way of helping Canadians and youth connect with their past. The commemoration process is largely driven by public nominations. To date, more than 2,200 designations have been made.
The Government of Canada is committed to connecting Canadians to the significant people, places, and events that shaped our country's history and to implementing the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.
Parks Canada is committed to working in partnership with Indigenous peoples to recognize, commemorate, and share Indigenous histories. Working together with more than 300 Indigenous communities across Canada, Parks Canada and Indigenous peoples are partners in conserving, restoring, and presenting Canada's natural and cultural heritage.
