Grand Council

The goal of the grand council is to make sure that our culture and language is maintained, preserved, and encouraged. The grand council is the government of the Mi’kmaq nation.

Will Basque served as the smagn’ss (chief) of the grand council many years ago. In 1610, Chief Membertou was the Grand Chief and the Grand Council. The grand council at that time was a traditional and spiritual government of the Mi’kmaq nation and still is today.

The people that are involved with the Grand Council are:

Grand Chief Ben Sylliboy - Waycobah

Keptin (Captain) Alex Denny - Eskasoni

Putus, Charles Herney - Membertou

Melvin Paul - Membertou

Thomas Marshall - Afton

John R Prosper - Afton

John Johnson – Chapel Island

Walter Denny - Eskasoni

Norman Sylliboy - Eskasoni

Andrew Stevens - Eskasoni

Michael Denny - Eskasoni

Leo Johnson - Eskasoni

John Prosper - Waycobah

Alex Michael - Waycobah

Alexander (Sandy) Julien – Millbrook

Raymond Francis – Pictou Landing

Ivan Knockwood – Indianbrook

Noel Knockwood – Indianbrook

Frank Nevin – Indianbrook

Frank Whitely – Indianbrook

Harold Gloade – Horton

John Prosper – Afton

Peter Augustine – Big Cove

Stephen Augustine – Big Cove

Michael Joe – Conne River Newfoundland

Aloysius Benoit – Conne River Newfoundland

Cyrus Sark – Rocky Point PEI

John Joe Sark – Johnson’s River Road PEI

The Grand Chief and Captains of the Mi’kmaq Grand Council hold an honorary position in many Mi’kmaq committees and organizations. They are consulted in groups which affect the whole Mi’kmaq communities.

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