by Michael W. McDonald J.D. & Angel Julian, APCFNC

The Esgenoopetitj First Nation formerly known as Burnt Church, is a Mi’kmaw community located in the district of Sikniktewaq or Sikniktuk. Sikniktuk is translated into English as “the land where the water drains”. Mi’kmaq territory, known to Mi’kmaq as Mi’kma’kik, was split into seven (7) Districts. Sikniktuk is the second largest of the seven (7) Mi’kmaw Districts. Esgenoopetitj is translated into English as “a lookout”. It is the sixth largest Mi’kmaq First Nation Community in Mi’kma’kik with a total population of 1,929 registered band members, three quarters of which reside on-reserve.

Esgenoopetitj First Nation was called Burnt Church for many years. The name also referred to the name ...