Mam-ber-tou | Membertou First Nation
Community Profile
- The Membertou First Nation is a thriving Mi'kmaq community near Sydney, Nova Scotia, known for its economic development and cultural preservation efforts.
- Last Updated 2025-05-31 18:37:33 UTC
- Name: Membertou (ISC Code: 26)
- Former Names: Membertou Reserve, Chapel Island First Nation
- Band Style: First Nation
- Cultural Area: Mi'kma'ki (Atlantic Canada)
- Indigenous Language: Mi'kmaq
- Number of Registered Members: 1669
Governance
Band Council
- GOVERNANCE TYPE: Not Applicable
- TERM EXPIRES: 12/15/2028
- CHIEF: TERRY PAUL
- NUMBER OF COUNCIL MEMBERS:20
- TERRY PAUL
- LEE GOULD
- JOHANNA LAPORTE
- DAVID MARSHALL
- DEAN S. CHRISTMAS
- CRAIG CHRISTMAS
- GRAHAM MARSHALL
- STORM A. SACK
- LAWRENCE PAUL
- ALLISTER MATTHEWS
- ANTHONY PAUL
- ALLISTER (BUSTER) MATTHEWS
- STORM SACK
- DEAN CHRISTMAS
- PAUL GOULD
- LAWRENCE (QUISM) PAUL
- DARRELL BERNARD
- PAUL MACDONALD
- GAIL CHRISTMAS
- MARY JOE
Contact Information
- BAND WEBSITE: http://www.membertou.ca/
- PHONE NUMBER: (902) 564-6466
- FAX NUMBER: (902) 539-6645
- ADDRESS: 111 Membertou Street, Sydney, NS
- EMAILS:
- Chief TERRY PAUL:
- Councillor LEE GOULD:
- Councillor JOHANNA LAPORTE:
- Councillor DAVID MARSHALL:
- Councillor DEAN S. CHRISTMAS:
- Councillor CRAIG CHRISTMAS:
- Councillor GRAHAM MARSHALL:
- Councillor STORM A. SACK:
- Councillor LAWRENCE PAUL:
- Councillor ALLISTER MATTHEWS:
- Councillor ANTHONY PAUL:
- Councillor ALLISTER (BUSTER) MATTHEWS:
- Councillor STORM SACK:
- Councillor DEAN CHRISTMAS:
- Councillor PAUL GOULD:
- Councillor LAWRENCE (QUISM) PAUL:
- Councillor DARRELL BERNARD:
- Councillor PAUL MACDONALD:
- Councillor GAIL CHRISTMAS:
- Councillor MARY JOE:
- General Band Office:
- Media Contact:
- Referrals Contact:
- Websites
Band Financial Statements
- 2024 - Audited consolidated financial statements
- 2023 - Audited consolidated financial statements
- 2022 - Audited consolidated financial statements
- 2021 - Audited consolidated financial statements
- 2020 - Audited consolidated financial statements
- 2019 - Audited consolidated financial statements
- 2018 - Audited consolidated financial statements
- 2017 - Audited consolidated financial statements
- 2016 - Audited consolidated financial statements
- 2015 - Audited consolidated financial statements
- 2014 - Audited consolidated financial statements
- 2013 - Audited consolidated financial statements
- 2010 - Membertou20102011.pdf
- 2009 - Membertou20092010.pdf
- 2008 - Membertou20082009.pdf
- 2007 - Membertou20072008.pdf
- 2006 - Membertou20062007.pdf
- 2005 - Membertou20052006.pdf
- 2004 - Membertou20042005.pdf
- 2003 - Membertou20032004.pdf
- 2002 - Membertou20022003.pdf
- 2001 - Membertou20012002.pdf
Band Council Remuneration
- 2024 - Schedule of Remuneration and Expenses
- 2023 - Schedule of Remuneration and Expenses
- 2022 - Schedule of Remuneration and Expenses
- 2021 - Schedule of Remuneration and Expenses
- 2020 - Schedule of Remuneration and Expenses
- 2019 - Schedule of Remuneration and Expenses
- 2018 - Schedule of Remuneration and Expenses
- 2017 - Schedule of Remuneration and Expenses
- 2016 - Schedule of Remuneration and Expenses
- 2015 - Schedule of Remuneration and Expenses
- 2014 - Schedule of Remuneration and Expenses
- 2013 - Schedule of Remuneration and Expenses
Laws, Bylaws, and Codes
Intergovernmental Agreements
Lands and Traditional Territory
Reserves
-
ISC Code: 6054
CARIBOU MARSH 29
219.3 Hectares
8 KM SW OF/DE SYDNEY
[-33.8688197, 151.2092955] -
ISC Code: 6042
MALAGAWATCH 4
661.3 Hectares
62 KM SW/SO OF/DE SYDNEY
[-33.8688197, 151.2092955] -
ISC Code: 6055
SYDNEY 28A
5.1 Hectares
1.6 KM NE OF/DE SYDNEY
[-33.8688197, 151.2092955] -
ISC Code: 6056
MEMBERTOU 28B
141.1 Hectares
1.6 KM S OF/DE SYDNEY
[-33.8688197, 151.2092955]
Membertou Traditional Territory
- Encompasses parts of Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia
- Traditional lands include Sydney Harbour and surrounding coastal regions
- Historically used for fishing, hunting, and seasonal migrations
- Key geographical areas include Chapel Island and surrounding coastal zones
Consultations and Referrals
Band Submissions
Consultation Reports
Band Business Interests
Band Owned Corporations
Court Records
Downloadable Court Decisions
- Membertou Reserve Band Council (Re)
- Membertou Reserve Band Council (Re)
- Kelly v Membertou Gaming Commission Inc.
- United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW), Local 864 v Membertou Reserve Band Council
- Membertou Band v. Johnson
- Johnson v. Membertou First Nation
- Membertou Reserve Band Council (Re)
- Membertou Band v. Paul
- Marshall v. Membertou First Nation
Active Court Cases
Media Reports
Media Reports
- Membertou First Nation's newly elected youth chief and council convene for first meeting
- Newdock Acquired by Indigenous Partnership: Membertou, Qalipu First Nations, and Horizon Naval Engineering
- Playing to Win: How a First Nation Turned Around Its Fortunes
- Membertou First Nation constructing mass-timber office building
- Bridging Mi’kmaw culture and early childhood education: Ethan Paul’s story
- Membertou First Nation Celebrates Construction Of Mass Timber Office Building
- First Nations Finance Authority surpasses $2 billion milestone
- Terry Paul returned as chief of Membertou to start 40th year in office
- “Something like this fills your heart with joy”: Membertou regalia lending library established in Shaylene Johnson's honour
- Noah Matthews Cremo: The first male nurse from Membertou
- 'We got to tell our story': Sons of Membertou perform at Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington, D.C., receive record deal
- Membertou First Nation celebrates the construction of a new gas bar, timber office building
- Terry Paul
- Membertou hosts Indigenous disability conference
- Membertou First Nation building 32 new homes with federal funding
- 'It feels surreal': Membertou's Karlee Waldvogel chosen to represent Team Indigenous Canada in soccer at 2025 Games
- Indigenous-led consortium buys 140-year-old dockyard in St. John's
- 'Honouring Truth and Reconciliation': Membertou and Qalipu First Nations partner with Horizon Naval Engineering to acquire NewDock
- Video series out of Membertou Heritage Park shares lessons of reconciliation through storytelling
- Why a 400-year relationship between Mi'kmaq and Catholic Church is under pressure
- Federal minister in Membertou touts funding for Indigenous women, youth entrepreneurs
- Membertou is ready for the TELUS Cup
- Membertou First Nations woman recognized as one of 150 influential Indigenous women over the last 500 years
- Indigenous Services Canada provides $1.8 million for Membertou gas bar, office building
- Dr. Peter Joseph Christmas Obituary - Sydney, NS
- Membertou students plant red tulips at memorial park for missing and murdered Indigenous people in Cape Breton
- Mi'kmaw fashion designers ready for the runway in Membertou
- Traditional Mi'kmaw canoe connects with Membertou athletes ahead of North American Indigenous Games
- National Aboriginal Hockey Championships take to the ice in Cape Breton for weeklong tournament in Membertou
- Membertou man explains systemic racism
- New YMCA on Membertou First Nation sign of Indigenous people's healing
- Membertou First Nations teen helping to keep the Mi'kmaq language alive in his community
- Cape Breton multimedia camp teaches Membertou youth about film industry
- Membertou’s moment: How a Mi’kmaq nation found prosperity and a seafood empire
- Remembering sacrifice: Membertou First Nation's Remembrance Day
- Mi'kmaw communities still cleaning up from Fiona prepare for the next hurricane season
- Clearwater gives up piece of offshore lobster monopoly to N.S. First Nation for $25M
- Children's shoes will be featured in Membertou art installation
- 'We were little enslaved people': Known only as Number 49, Membertou woman recalls horrors she endured at N.S. residential school
- Maine police investigate claim long-missing Mi'kmaw mother was murdered
- Membertou Heritage Park manager says public needs to learn about Mi'kmaq
- 'Reconciliation in Canada': The Clearwater deal marks Indigenous nations' growing clout
- Membertou First Nation connects with Pride Cape Breton on deeper level
- Sons of Membertou share Mi'kmaw culture as Cape Breton University's 2022 Artist in Residence
- First Nations fisheries success stories shared at forum
- Membertou home to Canada Post's second community hub model
- Indigenous students from Cape Breton use animation to bring Mi'kmaw books to life
- Membertou day school survivors to get update on class action
- Life under the Indian Act a 'horrible existence,' Indigenous senator says, but there's hope
- What is the key to creating the best education for First Nation communities?
- Membertou First Nation to commemorate its ancestral home
- How Membertou Chief Terry Paul helped turn historical roadblocks into economic opportunities
- Opinion: Trust is the foundation of leadership, says Chief Terry Paul of Membertou First Nation
- National Aboriginal Hockey Championships open in Membertou
- Unama’ki: Indigenous Affairs
- Bernd Christmas running in upcoming Membertou election
- Day 1 of MMIWG inquiry in Membertou hears stories of loss and resilience
- Membertou latest First Nation to leave Assembly of NS Mi’kmaw Chiefs, KMKNO
- Indigenous-owned Cape Breton campground to have teepees, tents and trailers
- Mi'kmaq chief brings call for better understanding on National Aboriginal Day
- Listen to a Membertou linguist read In Flanders Fields in Mi'kmaq
- New YMCA on First Nation blends exercise with spiritual health
- Family seeking justice in Mi’kmaw woman’s death testify in Day 2 of MMIWG hearings in Membertou
- Hundreds of Mi'kmaw artifacts return home to Cape Breton
- MMIWG Inquiry to hold hearing in Membertou First Nation
- National inquiry into murdered, missing Indigenous women and girls hold community meetings in NS this week
- Why a 400-year relationship between Mi'kmaq and Catholic Church is under pressure
- Refinancing Clearwater loan worth millions in annual cash flow for Mi'kmaw owners
- Indigenous hockey players learning on and off the ice at Membertou tournament
- Video game company is using technology to tell stories based on Cape Breton's history
- Family continues search for Mi'kmaw father of 6, missing for 2 weeks
- Some N.S. Mi'kmaw communities still without power after Fiona's devastating winds
- A potent symbol of First Nations rights sat for years in DFO storage, but now it's home
- Hockey program for Indigenous girls in Cape Breton creating opportunities amid COVID-19 restrictions
- Preserved eagle given to wildlife association to teach dangers of lead
- Ottawa spending $1.3 million to tap into N.S. geothermal energy
- 'Explorations in Unama'ki': Information Morning Cape Breton visiting First Nation communities
- National Aboriginal Hockey Championships coming to the North in 2019
- Membertou Youth Council inspired by teacher when organizing Mi'kmaq cultural event
- One year later: Membertou chief calls $1-billion Mi'kmaw-led Clearwater Seafoods acquisition 'just the start'
- How the $250M Clearwater Seafoods purchase by 7 Mi'kmaw First Nations came to be
- A model native community remembers its past
- First Nations partner with B.C. company in $1B purchase of Clearwater Seafoods
- Indigenous Success Stories – Membertou and Osoyoos
- Eskasoni, Membertou say honouring residential school survivors big part of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
- Survey finds Indigenous Canadians often downplay their background in the workforce
- Mount Allison University gifts 250 Mi'kmaq artifacts to the Membertou Heritage Park
- Team Atlantic hoping for win at National Aboriginal Hockey Championships in Membertou
- Membertou hosts First Nations fisheries conference Jan. 23-25
- Feminism needed in Indigenous communities says Membertou mother
- Feasting and friendship in Membertou on National Indigenous Peoples Day
- Feasting and friendship in Membertou on National Indigenous Peoples Day
- Indigenous, religious leaders in the Maritimes call on the Vatican to return artifacts
- First Nations chief calls $1-billion Clearwater deal a 'generational acquisition'
- Longtime Mi'kmaq leader remembered in Membertou
- Canada’s first electric lobster boat piloted by Membertou First Nation and industry partnership
- ‘Building towards abundance’: How Indigenous-owned Clearwater Seafoods is reshaping Canada’s seafood industry
- Indigenous electric lobster fishing vessel to operate in Nova Scotia
- Terry Paul 'proud, honoured' to celebrate 40 years as chief of Membertou
- Super Ne’le’k: Jeff Ward relocates to Cape Breton's Wagmatcook as new director of Community Culture and Heritage
- Indigenous disability conference planned for Membertou
- 'I wish this was there 11 years ago': $2.5 million in federal support for Indigenous women, youth entrepreneurs
- 'It's good to give back'; Membertou hunters make moose meat donation to Jane Paul Centre
- Membertou to host National Aboriginal Hockey Championships for 2nd time
- Education needed to address stigma of long hair, Mi’kmaq hereditary chief says
- Long-running Indigenous hockey tournament comes home, aims to grow
- Indigenous, religious leaders in the Maritimes call on the Vatican to return artifacts
- Membertou welcomes the MMIWG Inquiry
- Three-day inquiry into missing, murdered Indigenous women begins in Membertou, N.S.
- Canada Is Tuning Into Aboriginal Tourism
- Membertou First Nation Makes a Historic Investment to Expand Indigenous Participation In Atlantic Canada's Commercial Fishery
- Membertou turns a problem into a boat-building business
- Budding Indigenous entrepreneurs in Cape Breton turning passions into businesses
- National Aboriginal Hockey Championships open in Membertou
- Membertou hosts inquiry into missing, murdered Indigenous women
- Mi'kmaw rights group, Membertou chief at odds over alleged proposed cannabis law
- Red Dress Day events planned for Cape Breton
- Maritimers mark fourth annual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation at Membertou First Nation
- Membertou awarded 2022 national Indigenous hockey tournament after Regina withdraws
- IN PHOTO: Cape Breton's Membertou celebrates pride
- Noah Matthews Cremo: The first male nurse from Membertou
- Emotional opening day at MMIWG Membertou hearings
- Opinions differ in Membertou on how to deal with an illegal drug crisis
- ROSEMARY GODIN: Reconciliation is for all of us
- Membertou First Nation takes on tourism and technology improvements
- The emergence of Indigenous business law
- Fisherman sentenced for 'blatant and overt' interference in Membertou lobster fishery
- Tragic story of Victoria Paul focus of Tuesday’s Membertou hearings
- REGISTRATION IS OPEN FOR THIS SEASON'S INDIGENOUS GIRLS HOCKEY PROGRAM
- 'Wallys' hockey tournament returns to Membertou First Nation
- Laying the groundwork
- An architect of Membertou's economic rise has Amazon dreams
- 'I was taught to never charge for medicine'; Membertou elder teaches community about Mi’kmaw medicines
- Membertou First Nation to become latest to join Mi’kmaq livelihood fishery in N.S.
- Cape Breton First Nation community to vote on sale of cannabis in community
- Mrs. Universe tells First Nations youth in Membertou to embrace their culture
- 'Wallys' hockey tournament returns to Membertou First Nation
- 'Wallys' hockey tournament returns to Membertou First Nation
- Figure. Map of Unama'ki (Cape Breton), Nova Scotia, showing location of...
- Figure. Map of Unama'ki (Cape Breton), Nova Scotia, showing location of...
- Federal government announces $8.2 million in housing funding for Membertou
Academic Research
Academic Research
- “Membertou Always Wanted To Succeed”: The Membertou Business Model
- Engraved on Our Nations: Indigenous Economic Tenacity
- Membertou First Nation Indigenous people succeeding as entrepreneurs
- Fostering Indigenous Entrepreneurship: a case study of the Membertou first nation, Nova Scotia, Canada
- Managing Land, Governing for the Future: Finding the Path Forward for Membertou
- Brand Membertou: Walking in two different worlds
- Membertou Professional Centre Signs
- ABORIGINAL CULTURAL TOURISM MARKETING'AN ISSUE OF GOVERNANCE'.
- Mi'kmaw-Owned Partnership in Clearwater Seafoods
- Housing and Community Economic Development: The Case of Membertou
- Engraved on Our Nations: Indigenous Economic Tenacity
- Engraved on Our Nations: Indigenous Economic Tenacity
- Engraved on Our Nations: Indigenous Economic Tenacity
- Engraved on Our Nations: Indigenous Economic Tenacity
- Engraved on Our Nations: Indigenous Economic Tenacity
- Engraved on Our Nations: Indigenous Economic Tenacity
- Engraved on Our Nations: Indigenous Economic Tenacity
- Relocation, Research, and Reconciliation in Unama'ki
- Engraved on Our Nations: Indigenous Economic Tenacity
- Relocation, research, and reconciliation in Unama'ki
- Engraved on Our Nations: Indigenous Economic Tenacity
- Engraved on Our Nations: Indigenous Economic Tenacity
- Membertou Museum B
- Engraved on Our Nations: Indigenous Economic Tenacity
- Engraved on Our Nations: Indigenous Economic Tenacity
- Engraved on Our Nations: Indigenous Economic Tenacity
- Engraved on Our Nations: Indigenous Economic Tenacity
- Engraved on Our Nations: Indigenous Economic Tenacity
- Engraved on Our Nations: Indigenous Economic Tenacity
- Membertou Heritage Park Craft Tables
- Engraved on Our Nations: Indigenous Economic Tenacity
- Engraved on Our Nations: Indigenous Economic Tenacity
- Engraved on Our Nations: Indigenous Economic Tenacity
- Engraved on Our Nations: Indigenous Economic Tenacity
- Engraved on Our Nations: Indigenous Economic Tenacity
Expert Analysis