HISTORY
ARCHIVED NEWS
BANDS:
PROFILE
The Gander Bay Indian Band Council was founded in 1972 and became
incorporated in 1980. The council has 165 members currently living in Gander Bay and
approximately 150 members living outside the boundaries. All members are direct
descendants of Charlie Francis Sr. a full blooded Mi’Kmaq Indian who came to Gander
Bay from Pictou Landing, Nova Scotia in 1830.
The Francis clan occupy a part of Gander Bay called Clarke’s Head, the land on which
the members live today was granted to Charlie Francis Sr. by the Newfoundland government
in 1835. The land is approximately 2.5 miles long and 3 miles wide.
Some of the band members are employed as hunting and fishing guides on the Gander River.
Years earlier, hunting, fishing and trapping was an essential part of life, however today
very few members still have trap lines.
The religion of band members is mostly Roman Catholic and Anglican. The band once had
their own Catholic church in Clarke’s Head, however, due to assimilation with other
church groups, the Catholic church was dismantled several years ago. The band has its own
cemetery located in Clarke’s Head where Charlie Francis Sr. and most of his
descendants are buried.
The Band council provides support to members in the form of post secondary education, job
creation, housing and economic development.
Meet the Executive:
Chief:
Calvin Francis
Clarke's Head
Gander Bay, NL
A0G 2G0
Phone: (709) 676-2188
email:cal.francis@nf.sympatico.ca
Vice Chief:
Reginald Bath
Phone: (709) 676-2938
Directors:
Hughie Bath
Phone: (709) 676-2618
Austin Francis Sr.
Phone: (709) 676-2914
Cathy Bath
Phone:(709) 676-2234
Montey Bath
Phone:(709) 676-2938
Austin Francis Jr.
Phone:(709) 676-2398