Item

Pilot
April 24, 1879
St. Andrews and the Indians
Reverend Eugene Vetromille, the R. C. Apostolic Missionary, at Eastport, Maine, author of a book on Indian History and the St. Croix River, etc., says, “St. Andrews was the ancient village of the tribe now called ‘Quoddy Indians.’ The Indian name for St. Andrews is Guanasquamkook, meaning the “long-gravel-bar-joining-the-Island.” The tribe leased some of the land at St. Andrews, (which was the ancient village of the tribe) to certain Englishmen for a few years, but when the period expired, they were driven from their Guanasquamkook; and went to Indian Island, then to Eastport, where their descendants yet reside.
            The “Grand Sachem of Passamaquoddy Bay” is pleased to learn that the original and correct Indian word for the St. Croix River is Peskadamuikkanti. The School teachers of St. Andrews had better school themselves and their pupils in the orthography and pronunciation of this original word. It will look so imposingly grant on the blackboard in white chalk letters, that the “Grand Sachem” will be exceedingly delighted; and a general holiday will reward the enterprise.