Welcome to the Big Cove Community Web Site!

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The Big Cove First Nations Band inhabits the Richibucto Reserve which covers 4120 acres and is located 5 miles southwest of Rexton. The reserve was established in September of 1805. Big Cove is one of the two biggest Native Communities in New Brunswick, Canada. Big Cove is a Mi'kmaq community of 2484 aboriginal people. 

Our Web site has featured several facilities and programs found on the Reserve. We have also included pictures to most of the facilities along with contact information, up and coming special events but also on-going programs in our community. We also highlighted a few of our Entrepreneurs, as well as selected Mi'kmaq links that may interest you. Please feel browse through our site to ensure that you a good visit.

History of Big Cove

The Mi'kmaqs of New Brunswick were Kent County's first inhabitants. Their nomadic life style led them as far as Prince Edward Island in the summer, while Big Cove represented a better shelter in the winter. The main body of the tribe stayed at what is presently called Richibucto, originally Melsigpogtog, meaning "Strong Point". Their right to the land was eroded in 1725, when a treaty guaranteed undisturbed encroachment by white settlers.

The Mi'kmaqs dispersed as white settlers grew. From 2000 originally, the population dropped to 12 families scattered around Richibucto and another 12 families up the river at the present reserve location. In 1802, the New Brunswick Legislature set aside 51,200 acres for the Big Cove Community but reclaimed over 3,000 acres in 1866, and by 1900, the Community only had 2,222 acres left.

In 1871, the Federal Government initiated a process to prepare the Indians for the transition to a farming mode of life. A first school was built in 1855 and a church in 1897. The outbreak of the Spanish Flu in 1919 decimated the Big Cove Community of 40 families to half its size. It was only after the second World War that it started to rebuild to the level known presently.

Today, Big Cove is a community of 2484 Mi'kmaq people.