Fort Folly First Nation and its community members have a long history in the Maritimes. Although established in 1840 in Shepody Bay at the mouth of the Petitcodiac River, the Mi’kmaq people who came to reside on this reserve had been inhabiting the area for many thousands of years. It is thought that the people followed the melt of the glaciers up to this land about 12,000 years ago.

Economic decline of the building stone quarries at Fort Folly Point in the late 19th century resulted in many families leaving the traditional territory of Fort Folly First Nation. In 1969, Fort Folly First Nation reestablished near Dorchester at Palmer’s Pond and has since continued to grow.