Honouring the Past, Healing for the Future: The Journey of the Tobique First Nation
The Tobique First Nation (Neqotkuk), part of the Wolastoqiyik (Maliseet) people, has lived along the beautiful Tobique River in what is now western New Brunswick for thousands of years. Their name, culture, and way of life are intimately tied to the land and the flowing waters of the Wolastoq (St. John River), which they have safeguarded for generations.
But like many Indigenous communities across Canada, Tobique’s history is marked not only by rich tradition and resilience—but also by profound injustice.
A Legacy of Displacement and Residential Schools
The 19th and 20th centuries brought waves of disruption. Treaties were dishonoured, land was taken, and government policies aimed at erasing Indigenous identity took root. In 1892, Tobique was forcibly relocated from its ancestral lands—part of a pattern repeated across the country. The damage went beyond geography; it cut into the very fabric of their community.
Perhaps the most devastating blow came with the residential school system. Like many First Nations children, those from Tobique were taken from their families and placed into state-run institutions designed not to educate, but to assimilate. Stripped of their language, culture, and connection to family, generations were left traumatized.
These experiences didn’t just end with the closure of the schools. Their impacts echo today—in cycles of poverty, substance abuse, broken families, and a deep mistrust of institutions that were meant to protect.
A Community Reclaiming Its Strength
Despite this painful legacy, the Tobique First Nation is writing a different story—one of strength, renewal, and cultural resurgence.
Today, the community is investing in programs that rebuild what was lost:
- Language revitalization to pass on the Wolastoqiyik language to the next generation
- Land-based education to reconnect youth with traditional knowledge and practices
- Mental health and recovery services tailored to Indigenous realities
- Cultural celebrations and ceremonies that restore pride and belonging
Leaders, elders, youth, and families are all part of this ongoing transformation. It is not charity that fuels their journey—it is justice. But justice requires resources.
Why Your Support Matters
When you donate, you’re not simply giving money—you are actively participating in the healing of a nation.
Your support helps Tobique:
- Build safe spaces for youth and elders
- Provide trauma-informed recovery programs
- Invest in education, training, and sustainable development
- Preserve a rich cultural heritage that has survived against all odds
This is about more than a donation. It’s about acknowledging the past, standing in solidarity in the present, and helping build a more equitable future for all.
Together, we can walk alongside Tobique on their path of restoration—rooted in culture, driven by community, and guided by hope.
Support the journey. Help Tobique thrive.