Dear Editor:

I read with interest the article published in the Charlottetown Guardian in reference to Mi’kmaq Sacred Burial Grounds in Alexandra, PEI. Thank you for publishing the statements made by the Minister’s office for the record.

It appears that the Provincial Archeologist and Secretariat of Aboriginal Affairs for the Province of PEI did little research before inaccurate conclusions and statements were made. The eight digit map coordinates for these sites are in government records and the archives.

The “places” she refers to have historical names. The permanent fishing encampment is called Wji’kijek on Oejecucch and is nestled between the Acadian settlements of Anse au Matelot and Le Morais. The Mi’kmaw portages are in Crown deeds of property and are very likely Treaty Rights. My training in Anthropology taught me that deeds, physical observations, census data, maps and government records are not tales, myths and hearsay to be dismissed as anecdotal evidence. I can assure you the men and women who were involved in the bi-centennial project on behalf of the Alexandra Women’s Institute conducted very exhaustive research for the 217 page book on the history of the community.

If one were to Google “French Cemetery at Crown Point”, a page from Island Information Service lists this cemetery as well as a Mi’kmaw Cemetery in what used to be known as Squaw Point. The name Squaw Point was supposed to be removed ...