Since the days of the first French settlers in the 1600s, the Bear River Reserve has been known for its rich tradition in guiding, as the Mi’kmaq of this area have acted as teachers in the wilderness for generations.

When the first French settlers arrived to the Bear River area around 1604, they did not know how to live in the wilderness. Our people took them into the woods and taught them how to track and hunt, where to fish, and which plants and berries to eat.

By the late 1800s and early 1900s, American sportsmen flocked to the Bear River area for its excellent fishing and hunting, and its knowledgeable Mi’kmaw guides. Expeditions would last for days as parties forged through the backcountry and waterways south of Bear River Reserve boundaries to hunt moose, deer, and bear, and angle for salmon and trout.

Guiding provided our people with not only a way to hold to our traditional way of life, but also to earn a living for our families.

Photo Credit
Collection of Frank Meuse Jr./ Copy photo: Nova Scotia Museum, Halifax