Miawpukek First Nation

Miawpukek First Nation is a Mi`kmaq community located on the south coast of the island part of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It is located about 224 km from the nearest service center, the international airport town of Gander.

The community was originally used as one of many semi-permanent camping sites by Miawpukek’s ancestors, who were nomadic people that travelled throughout Newfoundland, Labrador, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Maine. According to traditional oral history, Miawpukek became a permanent community around 1822. The reserve was established in 1870, and officially designated as Samiajij Miawpukek Indian Reserve under the Indian Act in 1987.

Since 1987, Miawpukek has gone from a poor, isolated community with almost 90 per cent unemployment to a strong vibrant community with nearly 100 per cent full-time/part-time employment. Miawpukek’s membership is approximately 2,600 with more than 800 people living in the Mi’kmaq community. 

“The Fund’s Credit Enhancement Facility will provide options, with ease for my members to not only construct new homes, but obtain loans to renovate their existing homes.”
—– Chief Misel Joe (February 2009)

Contact Information:

Leslie Benoit
Housing Manager
P.O. Box 10
Conne River, NL
A0H 1J0
Ph.: 709-882-2470 ext. 1223
Fax: 709-882-2292
Email: lbenoit@mfngov.ca
Website: www.mfngov.ca