ARE YOU A BRAS D’OR INDIAN?

Do you have ancestors from Bras d'or, Cape Breton whose surnames are Young-Lejeune, Jessome-Jesseau-Jesso, King-LeRoy, Edwards, Debison, Almond, Pierro, Marsh-Marche, Benoit-Bennett, or Denny?

All descendants of the families above are of Mi'kmaq ancestry, and are part of the Bras d'Or Indian community which continues to live on it's tradional lands in Bras d'Or, Cape Breton. To learn more follow this link: History of the Bras d'or Indians.

This excerpt is taken from the 1982 Constitutional Act of Canada.

Guarantee of Rights and Freedoms

Part II: Rights of the Aboriginal Peoples of Canada

Section 35

In this Act, "aboriginal peoples of Canada" includes the Indian, Inuit and Métis peoples of Canada.

All the SURNAMES listed below are based on church and census records taken from the 1780 to 1900 period and is by no means meant to be an exhaustive list of SURNAMES.

If you descend from one of the families below or believe you might be a descendant, please go to our Membership page and to apply for membership in the Bras d'or First Nations Community.

SURNAMES of Early 1800s families:

1. ALEXANDRE-ALEXANDER
2. KING-LEROY
3. YOUNG-LEJEUNE
4. JESSOME-JESSO-JESSEAU
5. MARSH-MARCHE
6. ALMON-ALMOND
7. ??PIERRO-PERRO-PIERRAULT
8. EDWARDS
9. DEBISON-DEVISON-POSSIBLY DAVISON
10. DENNY
11. ?? FORTUNE-FORTIN
12. BENOIT-BENNETT, BOUCHER-BOUCHARD nbsp;

Newfoundland families:

1. Jacquet
2. Morrell

If SURNAMES of your ancestors are found in the list above, it DOES NOT mean they AUTOMATICALLY descend from the Bras d’or Indians, it only presents the possibility, NOTHING MORE.  I’m not aware of any exceptions to the SURNAMES found in the 1800s families listed in the first section who were resident in Indian/French Village, Little Bras d'or.

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