A Brief History of Prince Edward Island
Our earliest inhabitants were the Mi’kmaq First Nation people, and they named the island Abegweit, meaning “cradled on the waves”. The Mi’kmaq flourished and their unique culture is still celebrated today, as they honour and remember their past and traditions in cultural celebrations.
Jacques Cartier first visited in 1534. French and Basque fishermen visited PEI in the 17th century, and in the 18th century French settlers began to immigrate here. Settlement first began around Cardigan Bay in eastern PEI (Roma Three Rivers), Charlottetown Harbour (Port La Joie), the Hillsboro River, and St. Peters Bay area.
After the expulsion of the Acadians, English settlement followed. Highland settlers arrived from Scotland and were followed by Irish settlers fleeing the potato famine. Many of these people settled in the Cavendish area and their culture and heritage is still celebrated today.
