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- 1892- Report from Indian Agent Rev. Roderick McDonald
- PICTOU, N.S., 1st September, 1892, The Honourable The Superintendent-General of Indian Affairs, Ottawa. SIR, - With the tabular statement I submit the following report on matters relative to Indian affairs in my district for the year ended 30th June, 1892. The health of the Indians is comparatively good. There is no contagious disease among them. Up to the 31st August there were two deaths in excess of births. The prevailing sickness among them is lung disease contracted from ill- usage rather than from inheritance. This ill-usage arises frequently from deficiency of clothing during cold weather. Sobriety is fast becoming a virtue with them. I believe there are fewer cases of drunkenness among them now than formerly. They seem to realize every day the injury and danger of the habit of drinking. They show a great deal of energy at times to make up a sum of money, but scatter it equally fast. They lack perseverance. Many of the young men of the tribe are very industrious and have adopted the methods of living of white people. Several of them are employed at the iron works of Eureka and Bridgeville; while others are engaged loading and unloading vessels. Farming is not congenial to them. It is difficult to impress them with the importance of farming. It Inquiries too much attention. The little attention they pay the crop when it is placed in the ground, shows necessarily poor results. The whole tribe this year, as usual, gathered to the Indian Island to celebrate the festival of Ste. Anne their patron saint. They have shown a great deal of sincere piety. It is their great desire to have their beautiful little church entirely finished. They have already spent on it and the house for the priest, in the vicinity of two thousand dollars, the most of which was paid by themselves. The benefit of gathering to this island once every year is not to be viewed alone from a religious stand-point. The priest or agent can confer with them as a body on matters affecting their temporal welfare, and impress upon them the advantage of adopting the improved methods in their various avocations. The gathering of the tribe this year on Indian Island was specially interesting on account of the election of a new chief to replace the late Paul Paul. The name of the new chief is Noel Paul, a near relative of the late chief. The Paul family have held the crown with few interruptions for many years. For the first three years the newly elected chief is only on trial, and if at the end of that time he proves himself worthy, he is confirmed in office for life. Noel Paul, the present chief, is of good disposition and of fair intelligence, and seems to have a great deal of influence among them. I have the honour to be, sir, Your obedient servant,, Rev. Roderick MacDonald, Indian Agent, to Edgar Dewdney, Superintendent General of Indian Affairs, September 1st 1892, Annual Report of the Department of Indian Affairs for the Year Ended 31st December 1892 (Ottawa: Dominion of Canada, 1893), 112.
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- 1892- Special Appendix B- Immovable and Personal Property - Pictou County Indians
- Special Appendix reporting on immovable and personal property of various bands in Nova Scotia., Annual Report of the Department of Indian Affairs for the Year Ended 31st December 1892 (Ottawa: Dominion of Canada, 1893), xxx.
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- 1892-04-28
- A group of Mi'kmaq approached Agent Mcdonald to ask again to purchase land at Roy's farm at Pine Tree for their use. Agent explains that Roy either wants the Indians removed from his land or the government buy it from him. Explains that "the place is very formally situated for the Indians - it is well sheltered for their houses in winter, it is near a market for their work, it is adjoining the head of Merigomish Harbour where at all times of the winter they can get eels and smelt, both for their use and market." Says 20 families winter there., Rev. Roderick MacDonald, Indian Agent, to Lawrence Vankoughnet, Deputy Superintendent General of Indian Affairs, April 28th 1892, Library Archives Canada, RG10, Vol. 7761, File 27058.
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- 1892-05-12
- Vankoughnet replies to request to purchase more land for Pictou Landing Reserve that they still have no funds for this purchase., Lawrence Vankoughnet, Deputy Superintendent General of Indian Affairs, to Rev. Roderick MacDonald, Indian Agent, March 12 1892, Library Archives Canada, RG10, Vol. 7761, File 27058.
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- 1893- Agricultural and Industrial Statistics- Nova Scotia- Pictou County
- Agricultural and Industrial Statistics, showing census data for Pictou County Mi'kmaq. Document lists various items, such as property, resources, implements, and agricultural capacity., Digital version of the second page was unavailable via LAC (broken link), but a screenshot of the transcript has been provided. The URL should lead to a proper copy of the original, once LAC has fixed the broken link., Annual Report of the Department of Indian Affairs for the Year Ended 31st December 1893 (Ottawa: Dominion of Canada, 1894), 256.
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- 1893- Report from Indian Agent Rev. Roderick McDonald
- Annual report from Indian Agent McDonald. Commented on various aspects of Mi'kmaq life in Pictou County, including references to wage labour, religion, agriculture, and domestic life and sanitation., EUREKA, PICTOU Co., N.S., 18th November, 1893. The Honourable The Superintendent General of Indian Affairs, Ottawa. SIR, - I herewith submit my tabular statement on Indian affairs in my agency for the past year ended 30th June. I am pleased to state that no contagious disease appeared among the Indians of this reserve; they seem to realize the necessity of cleanliness in their houses, and this, no doubt, will aid materially in warding off contagious diseases, and add to the general health of the community. For the past Several years they have associated in the way of work and otherwise with the white people, and have, as a consequence, although slowly, copied some of their improvements. I regret to have to state that there is no school on this reserve. The land is divided up into four small settlements, therefore rendering it impossible to establish a school. A few children attend the public schools. The avocations of the Indians are various: some take up as a trade, coopering, basket-making, carpenter work, making axe and pick handles for the mines; others are at the Iron Works of Ferrona. They are fairly industrious, but change often from one work to another. They are indifferent about farming. They prefer other employment which gives immediate results. They gathered this year as usual to the Indian Island to celebrate the Festival of St. Ann. It is the only time of the year when they are all assembled. They take a lively interest in their new church, which is not yet finished inside. I have the honour to be, sir, Your obedient servant, RODERICK McDONALD, Agent District No 8., Annual Report of the Department of Indian Affairs for the Year Ended 31st December 1893 (Ottawa: Dominion of Canada, 1894), 240.
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- 1894- Annual Report from Indian Agent Rev. Roderick McDonald
- Annual report from Indian Agent Rev. R. McDonald to Department of Indian Affairs. Referenced the "industriousness" of the Pictou Mi'kmaq, a decline in the cod fishery, eel and smelt fishing, the lack of a school due to families living in smaller camps in the district for most of the year, and St. Anne's Day celebrations., EUREKA, N.S., 19th November, 1894. The Honourable The Superintendent General of Indian Affairs, Ottawa. SIR, - I have the, honour to submit my annual report and tabular statement for the year ended 30th June, 1894. Beyond the information contained in the tabular statement, very little can be said. The Indians in this district are gradually becoming more industrious, and every year falling into line with white people in earning a livelihood. They are abandoning hunting and sea fishing, for game is scarce in the forest, and cod-fishing around the coast uncertain. They occupy themselves in the winter season principally with basket-making, and providing material for butter tubs, also in smelt and eel fishing in the harbour. A few families are employed at the iron works at Ferrona. In the summer season there is very little appearance of want, unless among the old and sick, for it is then less expensive to live and they have more opportunities of obtaining work. The general health of the band is fairly good. I have not known for the last year or more of any contagious disease among these Indians. The principal disease is of a pulmonary character. There is no school taught in this district, for the reason that the Indians are scattered all over the country in small encampments of about five or six families each. Were they all settled in one place, a school could be kept up. The only time they are all brought together is on the festival of St. Anne, 26th July. I have the honour to be, sir, Your obedient servant, RODERICK McDONALD, Agent District 8., Annual Report of the Department of Indian Affairs for the Year Ended 31st December 1894 (Ottawa: Dominion of Canada, 1895), 186.
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- 1894- Tabular Statement No. 2 - Agricultural and Industrial Statistics- Pictou County
- Tabular statement showing property and implement ownership for various Mi'kmaq populations, including Pictou County., Only first page of original version was available on the LAC website. Linked URL will provide access once the broken link is fixed. Second page is a transcription of original source., Annual Report of the Department of Indian Affairs for the Year Ended 31st December 1894 (Ottawa: Dominion of Canada, 1895), 242-243.
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- 1895- Annual Report- Rev. Roderick McDonald, Pictou County Indian Agent
- Annual letter from Pictou Landing Indian Agent Roderick McDonald. Reported that the church on Indian Island had been destroyed in a storm, a temporary chapel erected to take its place. Also mentioned potato farming and lack of manure for general farming., DISTRICT No. 8, EUREKA, N.S., 1st October, 1895. The Honourable The Superintendent General of Indian Affairs, Ottawa. SIR, - I have the honour to present my annual report and tabular statement for the year ended 30th June, 1895. The condition of things in this agency has not changed very much since my last report. The loss, by storm last fall, of the church on Indian Island has been a serious blow to the poor Indians of this district. They have erected a temporary chapel near the old site which will have to do until such time as with outside assistance they are able to rebuild. There is at present very little sickness here among the Indians. The lack of sufficient clothing during the cold winter is largely the cause of sickness and brings on consumption, to which they are predisposed. The potato crop looks very well, and will be of great benefit to those who have planted. It is difficult to induce them to take an interest in farming unless they get assistance from the government. There are, however, a few families who realize the benefit derived from it. The great drawback in farming among them is the want of manure. They have no money to invest in chemical fertilizers, which are expensive. I have the honour to be, sir, Your obedient servant, RODERICK McDONALD, Agent., Dominion of Canada, Annual Report of the Department of Indian Affairs for the year ended 30th June 1895 (Ottawa: Government of Canada, 1896), 207., Rev. Roderick MacDonald, Indian Agent, to Thomas Mayne Daly, Superintendent General of Indian Affairs, October 1st 1895, Dominion of Canada, Annual Report of the Department of Indian Affairs for the year ended 30th June 1895 (Ottawa: Government of Canada, 1896), 207.
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- 1895- Tabular Statement- Agricultural and Industrial Statistics- Pictou County Indian District
- Annual tabular statement showing agricultural and other property owned by various bands. Also lists population and other details., Dominion of Canada, Annual Report for the Department of Indian Afairs for the year ended 30t June 1895 (Ottawa: Government of Canada, 1896), 324-5.
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- 1896- Annual Report from Indian Agent Rev. Roderick McDonald
- Annual report from Indian Agent Roderick McDonald, Pictou County. Reported that many men from the reserve worked at the iron ore docks at Pictou Landing, and that the potato crop was successful., MICMACS OF PICTOU COUNTY, EUREKA, 28th September, 1896. The Honourable The Superintendent General of Indian Affairs, Ottawa. SIR, - I have the honour to transmit my yearly report and tabular statement for the year ended 30th June, 1896. General Progress. - As these reports are given annually, general information can well be dispensed with. It is difficult to judge of the change taking place in the Indian character from year to year; but taking a period of ten years I can easily discern a transformation towards a more useful life. Occupation. - The Indians do not take as readily to farming as they do to the other avocations. Many of them are engaged this summer in discharging iron ore at Pictou Landing, and are considered excellent workmen. Education. - There are no schools in this district. Crops. - They derived a marked benefit from last year's potato crop, which was very good. Health. - The tribe was free from contagious disease during last year. Characteristics. - I am pleased to state that they are moral in character and cleanly in their habits. I have, & c., RODERICK McDONALD, Indian Agent. NOVA SCOTIA,, Dominion of Canada, Annual Report of the Department of Indian Affairs for the year ended 30th June 1896 (Ottawa: Government of Canada, 1897), 63-64.
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- 1896- Tabular Statement- Agricultural and Industrial Statistics
- Annual census of agricultural and industrial statistics. Reported on land cleared and planted, and also on implements and manufactures for various reserves., Dominion of Canada, Annual Report of the Department of Indian Affairs for the year ended 30th June 1896 (Ottawa: Government of Canada, 1897), 422-423.