by Michael W. McDonald J.D. & Angel Julian, APCFNC
Defenders of Wolastoqey
Tobique Community Gym. Photo by Michael W. McDonald
Neqotkuk, or Tobique First Nation is the largest of six Wolastoqiyik (wah-lew-stook-gey-ick) or Maliseet Nation First Nation community in New Brunswick, Canada. Located 180 kilometers north of Fredericton on the far west side of the province close to the US border and just north of the mouth of the Tobique River. Wolastoqiyik, which translated into English means “people of the beautiful or bountiful river.” Wolastoqey (wah-lew-stook-gay) refers to the Nation itself. However, many prefer to just use the term Wulastuk (wuh-lew-stook), much like the word Mi’kmaw, instead of Mi’kmaq.
To the Wulastuk the St. John’s river system and water shed was know as the Wolastoq. Anthropological evidence shows that the Wulastuk have maintained settlements along the Wolastoq (St. John’s) river system for over 6,000 years. In 1604, Frenc ...
