Which First Nations lived in the area that became New Brunswick?

The area that became the province of New Brunswick was traditionally inhabited by three primary First Nations groups, all of whom were Algonquian-speaking peoples. These nations include:1

• Mi’kmaq: Traditionally occupying the eastern Maritime region, the Mi’kmaq were a seasonally nomadic people who relied on hunting, fishing, and gathering. They were part of the Abenaki Confederacy, a group of tribes allied against the Iroquois Confederacy.21
• Malecite: This nation also inhabited the region and shared close linguistic and cultural ties with the Passamaquoddy.13
• Passamaquoddy: Historically residing along Passamaquoddy Bay and the St. Croix River, the Passamaquoddy were also members of the Abenaki Confederacy and relied on hunting and fishing for subsistence.3

These Indigenous peoples were the original inhabitants of the region long before the French arrived and claimed the area as part of Acadia.1