Kouchibouguac

Kouchibouguac takes its name from a Mi'kmaq expression meaning the river of the long tides. Here rivers meet a coast of sheltered lagoons, salt marshes and barrier islands, with forest farther inland. Mi'kmaq families drew upon both land and sea, moving with the seasons and maintaining deep ties to the country around the river. Marine resources supplied much of their food, while the woods and rivers offered other resources throughout the year.

Permanent European settlement in the area began in the late eighteenth century. Acadian families from the Memramcook area established themselves along the neighbouring Kouchibouguacis River, later joined by others from elsewhere. Their relationships with the Mi'kmaq, established over generations, helped these new communities take root on the coast.