Work should not go ahead on a proposed recreation project near Antigonish, N.S., until it’s determined whether there is a Mi’kmaq burial site in the way, says a First Nation community near Antigonish.

People with the Paq’tnkek First Nation in Afton believe there may be a burial ground somewhere near a narrow, unserviced road that is to be widened as part of a plan to develop Antigonish Harbour as a major recreation area for boaters.

“I heard that they were going to upgrade the road, and there might be a chance that there’s an Indian burial ground there,” band councillor Albert Julian told CBC News.

“There’s another old burial ground, an Anglican site, but that’s well marked out and defined. But there’s no definite spot as to where the Mi’kmaq burial ground would be.”

Julian said documents mention the Mi’kmaq burial site, but not the exact spot. So, for now, he said, no one should touch the road.

“If it was my property, I’d be wanting to do the same thing. But I’d be cognizant of involving people that may have a burial site there, or if I knew of one there,” he said.

Angus MacIsaac, the MLA for the area and economic development minister, said the provincial Office of Aboriginal Affairs is looking into the matter.

“Obviously, the province would not consider an application if there were going to be an upgrade to a road that negatively impacted the First Nation community,” MacIsaac said.

Without an access road, he said, the entire harbour project would be in jeopardy.

But Julian said there are many other ways to spend those recreation dollars.

About 500 people live on the Paq’tnkek First Nation reserve.