Skmaqn–Port-la-Joye–Fort Amherst

Skmaqn–Port-la-Joye–Fort Amherst is a historic site located in Prince Edward Island, Canada, near present-day Rocky Point. It holds deep historical significance for both the Mi’kmaq people and European colonial powers. The site was originally a Mi’kmaq gathering place and later became the location of Port-la-Joye, a French settlement established in 1720 AD as the first permanent European settlement on the island. After the British gained control of the area in 1758 AD, they built Fort Amherst atop the same site to solidify their claim and monitor the area. The fort also played a role in the Acadian deportation. Today, the site is a National Historic Site of Canada, renamed Skmaqn–Port-la-Joye–Fort Amherst to recognize and honor its Indigenous, French, and British heritage. It reflects centuries of cultural exchange, conflict, and colonization on Prince Edward Island.

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