Passamaquoddys fight development St. Andrews, New Brunswick, council votes to build on alleged burial ground

ST. ANDREWS, New Brunswick – The Schoodic Band of the Passamaquoddy Tribe believes that a plan to develop a 4-acre parcel at Indian Point could disturb an ancient burial ground.

The tribe has won support for its position from a group that called itself the St. Andrews Citizens’ Coalition for the Preservation of the Greenspace at Indian Point, which last year presented the Town Council with a petition signed by 700 residents.

At an emotional session Monday night, councilors voted to rezone the 4 acres for development.

The council in St. Andrews, which has about 1,700 residents in winter, views the residential development plan as a way to generate additional property taxes.

Indian Point is at the end of Water Street and has a breathtaking view of Passamaquoddy Bay. The majority of members of the council believe the 4 acres could be divided into nine house lots. The councilors have the option to restrict development to homes valued at no less than $200,000 Canadian.

Located about 45 minutes from the Canadian-U.S. border crossing at Calais, St. Andrews is a major New Brunswick seaside tourist destination. The Passamaquoddy estimate that about 100 tribe members live in and around the town.

In a packed chamber, coalition member John Williamson urged the councilors Monday night to vote down the bylaw that would permit the area to be rezoned for the development.

“The councilors and the entire town are aware that over 700 residents of St. Andrew have signed a petition opposing the proposed rezoning,” Williamson said. “The residents believe that retaining the green space is in the best long-term interest of the town.”

Passamaquoddy tribal Chief Hugh Akagi, who lives near the proposed development, handed each of the councilors documents that suggest that there is a burial ground at St. Andrews Point. He said the burial ground is described as being in the vicinity of the town’s former coal dump. He said

a map he found from the 1800s shows a coal dump in that area.

For the past four years the tribe has laid claim to Indian Point and much of southwestern New Brunswick. According to historical documents, in 1785 a group of Loyalists arrived at Indian Point where the Passamaquoddy had a settlement. The Loyalists offered to pay the tribe 25 pounds sterling if they could stay until spring. The money never was paid to the tribe, and the settlers never left.

During the meeting, Councilor Alan Golding said it is incumbent on the councilors to look at new ways to generate revenue for the community without raising taxes.

“Tax and water rate increases can be minimized if the town can grow the tax base. We must do this in a way that protects the heritage,” he said.

The councilor also addressed the issue of Passamaquoddy land claims. He said he had spoken with provincial government officials who said the tribe has not laid claim to any lands in New Brunswick.

“And more important,” Golding said, “there is no officially recognized Passamaquoddy Indian band recognized in New Brunswick or Canada.”

Pleasant Point tribe member Maynard Stanley said he took exception to Golding’s remarks that the Passamaquoddy did not exist. Pointing to a war memorial monument in the town square, Stanley said, “Do you intend to remove this plaque here in the town square where Passamaquoddy names are inscribed as being heroes that protected this country? If we do not exist, then I don’t want the names of my relatives on that plaque, saying they fought for this country,” he said.

When Mayor John Craig called for a vote, the councilors were split. He cast the deciding vote to rezone the land.

Akagi said after the meeting that the tribe had tried to discuss the issue of its land claims with the Canadian federal government but had not had much success. He said he believes the tribe now needs to press that point.

Pleasant Point Lt. Gov. Eddie Bassett said the vote was an encroachment on tribal rights. “If you look at the historical record, it is obvious that encroachment is the way the land was taken away from the Passamaquoddy,” he said.

He said the tribe plans to explore the possibility of seeking an injunction against the council to stop the development.

When reminded that the council wants to rezone only 4 of the 100 acres at Indian Point, Bassett said that is the way Passamaquoddy land rights have been chipped away. “If it’s just 4 acres, it is always more later,” he said.

The mayor said he believes the area had been examined in the past and no evidence was found that there were burial grounds. “If there were, all development definitely would cease,” he said.