Sa’n Pask, Potlotekewey Wutan. Weskijinuip, Kisikewiku’s, 14 te’sukunikek, 1922ek aq nepk Kisikewiku’s, 1 te’sukunikek, 1996ek. Amkwesewey meknup Saqmawin 1958ek mi’soqo 1960ek aqq ap meknup 1976ek mi’soqo 1986ek. Ta’n koquey mawi mkite’tkip  ta’n kisa’toqip  na Mi’kmawey kina’matinewo’kuom Potlotek weja’tekemk poqji kina’masij wen primary miso’qo grade 6 eliaqip. 

Naspip Sa’n app Sma’kniswey weja’tekemk Ejquljuiku’s 31 te’sukunikek mi’soqo Ejquljuiku’s 21 te’sukunikek, 1946ek. Aqq naspip Branch 12 Royal Canadian Legion, Sitni. Sa’n aqq wte’pitema Plsit A’no’q luiknek te’silipni wkwisua aq asukom te’silipni wtusua. Sa’n na newte’jip ji’nm ta’n matnkip  centralization aqq amskwesewa’juip nikana’toqip  kjitmiw wutanm aqq melki maliaptikip L’nui quspemk samqwan ta’n wejiaqip aqq mekite’tkipn keta’matultimkewe’l wejkuiaqmulti’kul…(1981). Sa’n aqq band kawnsilerenk kwilutmi’tip maqamikal apankitasikn wjit kinu Kaplnu’lewiktuk, (INAC) aqq panta’toqip ta’n tli matnitaqq aqq klapis ilsutasin.

1958ek Sa’n aqq wkawnsileremk kwilutmi’tip mawiwlteskatultimk Aksiperi kwilutmnew maqamikewey apankituewey, katu Kaplnu’l wlukewinu’mk melki mu welte’tmi’tikip aqq Sa’nal wi’kuama’tipn. Plna’l Plansis tel nutmas ta’n telimasni Sa’no’q. Ta’n tujiw kilew pejitaioqek welipotmuaq ta’sik fakkin maqamikew pekisituoqsip apukey? Ta’n teli Aklasie’wisip na’sik mu mujkajewey katu teli’sip na aqq pikwelkik kikmanaq teli’sultipnik aqq me ne’kaw teli’sultijik.

J.B. (Jerome Basque Aug 14th 2018)

John Basque Potlotek First Nation Born Aug 14th 1922 – passed away Aug 1st 1996. He was the 1st elected chief in 1958 – 1960 and re-elected in 1976 – 1986, his proudest accomplishments was having an all Mi’kmaq school built in Potlotek from grade primary to grade 6 attended.

He served in the Canadian Army Infantry from May 31st 1943 – to May 21st 1946, a member of branch 12 Royal Canadian Legion in Sydney. John and his wife Bridget Ann Paul had 7 sons and 6 daughters. John was one of the few men that stood up against centralization and one of the few pioneers that was sincere to his community and worked on the Indian Lake Water Maintenance System and proud to be Mi’kmaq and his Treaty rights…(1981). John with the band council requested land claims against the government of Canada and office ‘INAC’ claims initiate acquisition in order to have the claims restored.

1958 John and his council requested meting in Port Hawkesbury to request land claims apparently INAC agents strongly disagreed with John and laughed at them. According to Bernie Francis of his understand what he said. “When you people come over on those ships, how much fucking land did you bring with you anyway?” The English of course is not perfect, but that is the way he spoke as many of our people did then and still do.

J.B. (Jerome Basque Aug 14th 2018)