Peskotomuhkati chief, 79, battles a ticking clock in fight for formal recognition

Luke Beirne · CBC News

· Posted: Mar 09, 2025 8:10 AM EDT | Last Updated: March 9

The Peskotomuhkati First Nation, besides known arsenic the Passamaquoddy, has sought designation from the Canadian authorities for decades but has yet to spot immoderate steadfast enactment taken.

However, caller talks with the caller provincial authorities successful New Brunswick are giving anticipation to Chief Hugh Akagi. 

The Peskotomuhkati, whose accepted territory includes the St. Croix River and Passamaquoddy Bay watershed,have 2 communities successful Maine and 1 successful New Brunswick, successful the southwest. They live in some Canada and the United States, but are lone officially recognized successful the U.S.

Akagi said this is due to the fact that of the "inconvenience" their existence creates for nationalist boundaries, and a decades-long oversight connected the Canadian broadside of the border.

"It's a small spot of magic, that we tin beryllium legislated retired of existence," helium said.

"Is it thing that idiosyncratic forgot to marque hap oregon was determination a convenience oregon an inconvenience due to the fact that we were seen arsenic a borderline tribe. Border tribes are seen arsenic problems.

"I don't deliberation it was an mishap erstwhile they said, 'Oh, the Passamaquoddy nary longer exists due to the fact that determination are nary Passamaquoddy registered successful Canada.' So, Canada near america disconnected the books and, arsenic a result, we cease to exist."

In 2019, the Peskotimuhkati signed a ceremonial statement with the national and provincial governments to statesman the process of authoritative designation successful Canada. However, nary designation has yet occurred. 

"There are galore reasons. We tin telephone them excuses, we tin telephone them legitimate, but a batch of it has to bash with the government," Akagi said. When initially proposed, the government's commitments were precise significant.

However, arsenic talks went on, helium said, they were "watered down."

CBC reached retired to some the provincial and national governments astir the issue. Each issued little statements. 

"We proceed to enactment successful bilateral and tripartite negotiations portion the substance of designation is negotiated betwixt the national authorities and the Peskotomuhkati," Keith Chiasson, New Brunswick's curate of Indigenous affairs, said in a statement.

Eric Head, a spokesperson for Indigenous Services Canada, said discussions with Peskotomuhkati First Nation on "potential ceremonial designation arsenic a set nether the Indian Act are ongoing." He described the discussions arsenic confidential, and said it "would beryllium inappropriate to supply further details" to the public. 

"More information, including adjacent steps, volition beryllium shared straight with the assemblage erstwhile it is available." 

One of the large issues that this deficiency of designation causes is the lack of authorities funding. Akagi said the Canadian authorities does not presumption them arsenic morganatic arsenic they bash not acceptable the operation the authorities uses to presumption and categorize Indigenous peoples. 

LISTEN | Hugh Akagi speaks with the CBC's Emily Brass astir the decades-long combat of the Peskotomuhkati: 

"Their programs are each based connected reserve thinking," Akagi said. "As a result, I don't acceptable that mould. I don't person entree to their resources. So I person nary backing for wellness to enactment my community. I person nary backing for education, each of these things that the different communities have."

The Peskotomuhkati launched legal enactment against the authorities of New Brunswick earlier the alteration successful authorities past fall. Akagi said he hopes that they volition person a amended narration with the caller authorities and that officials person been unfastened to gathering with him truthful far. 

Akagi, who is 79, has seen however dilatory the wheels of authorities tin grind. Asked during an interrogation with Information Morning Saint John if helium was acrophobic that helium mightiness not spot the time erstwhile the Peskotomuhkati are formally recognized, helium said, "to beryllium honest, again, it's not a concern." 

That said, helium would similar to witnesser it himself. 

"I americium moving retired of time, but I don't person clip to worry," helium said. "I tin lone bash what I request to do, what I person clip to do. I've had unthinkable enactment arsenic a nation. I've had unthinkable enactment from different nations. I've had unthinkable enactment from my ain people. I've had unthinkable radical travel to the door."