{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}} {{Infobox settlement |official_name = Natoaganeg First Nation |motto = |image_skyline = |imagesize = |image_caption = |image_flag = Flag of Eel Ground First Nation.svg |pushpin_map = New Brunswick |pushpin_mapsize = 200 |pushpin_label_position = left |pushpin_map_caption = Location of Natoaganeg in New Brunswick |map_caption = |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_name = Canada |subdivision_type1 = Province |subdivision_name1 = New Brunswick |subdivision_type2 = County |subdivision_name2 = Northumberland County |leader_title = Chief |leader_title1 = Council |leader_title2 = MP |leader_title3 = Provincial Representatives |leader_name = George Harold Ginnish |leader_name1 = Merrill Martin<br /> Mike Simon<br /> Wallace Francis<br /> Alisha Sweezey<br /> Tyler Patles<br /> Willie Sark<br /> Kyle Francis<br /> Cody Narvey<br /> Brian Simon<br /> Kelvin Simonson |leader_name2 = Pat Finnigan (L) |leader_name3 = Rick Brewer (L)<br /> John W. Foran (L) |established_title = Established |established_date = 1783 |area_magnitude = |area_total_km2 = 28.23 |area_total_sq_mi = |area_land_km2 = |area_land_sq_mi = |area_water_km2 = |area_water_sq_mi = |area_water_percent = |area_urban_km2 = |area_urban_sq_mi = |area_metro_km2 = |area_metro_sq_mi = |population_as_of = 2012 |population_note = |population_total = 977 |population_footnotes = <ref name="Indian and Northern Affairs">[https://fnp-ppn.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/FNP/Main/Search/FNRegPopulation.aspx?BAND_NUMBER=7&lang=eng], Indian and Northern Affairs, retrieved August 30, 2012.</ref> |population_metro = |population_urban = |population_density_km2 = |population_density_sq_mi = |area_code = 506 / 428 |timezone = Atlantic (AST) |utc_offset = -4 |timezone_DST = ADT |utc_offset_DST = -3 |coordinates = {{coord|46|58|9.2|N|65|37|38.2|W|region:CA-NB|display=inline}} |elevation_m = |elevation_ft = |elevation_min_m = 0 |elevation_max_m = |blank_name = NTS Map |blank_info = 021I13 |blank1_name = |blank1_info = |website = https://natoaganegfirstnation.ca |footnotes = Postal code span: }}
'''Natoaganeg First Nation''', historically known as '''Eel Ground Band''' or '''Eel Ground First Nation'''<ref>{{cite web |last1=Walton |first1=Victoria |title=New connection across northwest Miramichi River named Natoaganeg Crossing Bridge |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/natoaganeg-crossing-bridge-named-9.6972840 |website=CBC |publisher=CBC News |access-date=2 April 2026}}</ref>, is a Mi'kmaw First Nation band government of 977 people located on the Miramichi River in northern New Brunswick, Canada. The community comprises three reserves (Eel Ground #2, Big Hole Tract #8 (south half), and Renous #12).<ref>http://eelgroundschool.ca/leaders/ourcomm.html {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930085402/http://eelgroundschool.ca/leaders/ourcomm.html |date=September 30, 2007}} Eel Ground First Nation</ref>
==History== {{See also|History of New Brunswick|List of historic places in Northumberland County, New Brunswick}} Natoaganeg principally occupies lands adjoining the City of Miramichi, New Brunswick, and members of the two communities have no doubt interacted from the time of earliest European settlement. About 1648, Nicolas Denys, Sieur de Fronsac, established a fort and trading post nearby, "on the North side of the Miramichi, at the forks of the river". His son, Richard Denys, was placed in charge of the fort and trading post. In 1688 Richard describes the establishment as including about a dozen French and more than 500 Indians.<ref>English, E.J. (2002) Nelson and its Neighbours: 300 years on the Miramichi, 2nd Ed., Earl J. English, Miramichi</ref><ref>Davidson, W.H. (1947) An account of the life of William Davidson, otherwise John Godsman, of Banffshire and Aberdeenshire in Scotland and Miramichi in British North America. Publ. New Brunswick Museum, Historical Studies No. 6.</ref><ref>Davidson, W.H. (1966) William Davidson 1740–1790. North Shore Leader, Newcastle</ref><ref>Beaubear's Island National Historic Site {{cite web |title=id73 |url-status=dead |url=http://www.breadnmolasses.com/2004/atlanticarts/id73.html |archivedate=October 13, 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081013203027/http://www.breadnmolasses.com/2004/atlanticarts/id73.html }}</ref>
The band was officially recognised by the British in 1783, soon after the French defeat in the Seven Years' War.<ref name="Indian and Northern Affairs"/>
No doubt the First Nation population had long preceded Denys' "establishment", and present-day inhabitants of Natoaganeg would largely be descended from Richard Denys' immediate neighbours. For the Mi'kmaq, the nearby junction of the Northwest and Main Southwest branches of the Miramichi River had long served as a natural meeting point.
==Notable people== {{Main|List of people from Northumberland County, New Brunswick}} [[Image:2000 Eel Ground Pow-wow Dancer.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Dancer at 2000 Pow-wow hosted by Eel Ground First Nation (IR Walker 2000)]] *Thomas Barnaby - Chief (1888–94)
==See also== *List of communities in New Brunswick *List of First Nations in New Brunswick * [https://natoaganegfirstnation.ca Natoaganeg First Nation]
==References== <references />
{{Mi'kmaq}} {{First Nations in New Brunswick}} {{coord|46|58|9.2|N|65|37|38.2|W|display=title}}
Category:Communities in Northumberland County, New Brunswick Category:Mi'kmaq governments Category:Mi'kmaq in Canada