Long before the coming of the white man, Prince Edward Island was the favourite warm weather camping ground of the MicMac Indians and was called by them “Abegweit” meaning “The Home Cradled on the Waves”. According to MicMac legend, Prince Edward Island was given its bright red soil by Glooscap, the great Indian demi-god, worshipped by the MicMacs. Glooscap wanted a cozy home where he could retire from the cares of life, so he took his fairy paintbrush and colored the rocks and earth of Abegweit red ——the gayest and most cheerful of all colors.

Our community of Indian River received its name from the number of these MicMac Indians who made its tidal flats and adjoining low hills their homes from the earliest days. Their settlements were all about Richmond Bay, but the tidal inlet, that bears their name, was home to hundreds when our forefathers came to the New World. Indian River, a small but beautiful stream, is on the northeastern side of Richmond Bay. Richmond Bay, now known as Malpeque Bay, is a large sheet of water stretching from Darnley on the North East to Low Point of the North West. The stream, Indian River, flows down past Tuplin’s Mill, under the mill bridge on the Malpeque Road, through the woods, under Indian River bridge below Mann’s through fields into Chinchester 00ve, and on into Richmond (Malpeque Bay). It was along this river that the Indians camped.

The cover for our history is made of birch bark. On it we have paint- ed a picture of the river flowing through the woods. Also eight Indian camps which were located near the headwater.

The early MicMac Indians lived in wigwams along the river banks and near the woods where they could hunt and fish. History tells us that the woods and waters of Abegweit teemed with game and fish. The Indians hunted with bows, arrows and spears made of wood tipped with bone or stone. For fighting they used stone tomahawks, bows and arrows, spears and bone knives. Stories are told in our community of how the MicMacs fought the Malecites and Mohawks on the banks of Indian River. The MicMacs travelled by birch bark canoe in spring, summer and fall. They used snowshoes in winter. Evil spirits and magic was the cause of their illnesses.

The first homes of the MicMacs that camped in the woods along Indian River were called wigwams or “camps". These camps were conical in shape and the framework was made of poles stuck in the ground in a circle. They were covered with birch bark and later bags or tar paper were used. In winter a layer of spruce boughs was laid over the outer covering to keep out the cold winds and snow. A hole, just large enough for the Indians to crawl in and out, was left for the doorway. Usually a piece of loose bark was put over the entrance and had to be lifted up when one wanted in. This kept the wind and insects out. The floor of these camps was just the clay ground covered with spruce boughs. These spruce boughs took the place of carpets, cushions, chairs, and beds. The Indians always sat or squatted on the floor of their camp. A pole went up the center and a pot hung from it. Whatever they ate was put in the pot and when mealtime came the Indians would all sit around it in a circle and wait his turn for food. Sometimes the baby would be put in a sort of hammock

suspended from the ceiling.