Mersey lands will house Mi’kmaq interpretative centre

The purchase took place Jan. 23. “We’ve actually had a committee that’s been working on the interpretive centre for two years,” said Acadia First Nation councillor, Charmaine Stevens.

Acadia First Nation already has a conceptual design of the interpretive centre with programming in the works.

Acadia First Nation Economic Development Officer, Lisa Francis said the feasibility study and business plan cost $53,000.

They received that money through the community economic opportunity program with the Department of Indian Affairs, she added. “Our overall mandate is to provide an authentic Mi’kmaw education and the preservation protection and interpretation of the heritage resources of Kebapskitk (Mersey River) and the inherent connections to the Mi’kmaw of Kespukwitk,” said Francis.

After having consultants look at the property to make sure it was “viable” for what they wanted, Stevens said it is a “perfect location.”

The building will resemble a turtle, said Stevens.

It will be just over 14,000 square feet in size.

They plan to showcase some of the 40,000 artifacts found in the Medway River a few years ago, dating back at most 10,000 years.

Stevens hinted they plan to have a lot of interactive displays such as a cultural village.

Having the interpretive centre right by the Mersey River will allow for canoeing and other outdoor activities. “It’s pretty exciting,” she stated. “The project itself is in the vicinity of a $6.5-million project.”

Venila Development Corporation purchased the land from the Region of Queens for the purpose of building 30 new high-end housing units. Well-known singer, Bobby Curtola, a director of the company, has since moved out of Liverpool. “There’s actually five lots and we’ve bought all of them that came with the land,” Stevens added.

The purchase price was $245,000. “The funding for us to purchase the land,” said Stevens, “was made available to us through our Ponhook Trust Fund, which is money that we had received in a land claim settlement about five years ago.”

Region of Queens Mayor John Leefe said, “This is a breathtaking development for Acadia First Nation and indeed, for all the people of Queens and represents the culmination of smart and creative planning by band members.”

Stevens said, “We’re definitely looking to work with the community. I think it will really be a one of a kind type of cultural centre; there’s definitely not anything like it in Nova Scotia right now.”

The mayor added, “The community at large owes a great debt of gratitude to Acadia First Nation for bringing this signal project a huge step closer to fruition.”