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- 1899-08-21
- McKean confirms that he will survey the reserves at Pictou Landing (Fishers Grant) at his soonest availability.
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- 1899-09-20
- McKean's financial account for the survey of reserves at Pictou Landing (Fishers Grant), which is valued at $47.45 and is confirmed by Agent McDonald.
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- 1899-10-02
- McKean's report of survey of reserves at Pictou Landing (Fishers Grant).
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- 1900- Agricultural and Industrial Statistics- Nova Scotia and British Columbia
- Annual census of agricultural and industrial statistics. Contains information for Pictou County Reserves, including population, farm land, land value. acreage. industrial and agricultural income, crops raised, and implements and buildings owned., Dominion of Canada, Annual Report of the Department of Indian Affairs for the year ended 30th June 1900 (Ottawa: S.E. Dawson Printer to the Queen’s Most Excellent Majesty, 1901), 213-240.
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- 1900- Annual Report from Rev. Roderick McDonald (Indian Agent)
- Annual Report from Indian Agent McDonald. McDonald reported that a full survey of the reserve at Boat Harbour had been conducted that year, and gave a short discussion of the Mi'kmaq who lived on Indian Island. Also highlighted the previous year's potato crop., MICMACS OF PICTOU COUNTY, EUREKA, September 26, 1900. The Honourable The Superintendent General of Indian Affairs, Ottawa. SIR, - I have the honour to submit my annual report of Indian affairs in this county for the year ended June 30, 1900. Reserve. - A survey of the whole reserve at Fisher's Grant has been made in accordance with instructions from the department, and the total area is one hundred and sixty-four acres. With the exception of about thirty-five acres, the reserve is mostly under wood; it takes a great deal of labour to cultivate it. The soil is naturally good, and under proper treatment yields well. Crops. - The potato crop last year was excellent. Many of the Indians had as much as twenty bushels over what they required for their winter use and spring seed. The other crops have been fairly good. The Indians are becoming every year more industrious, and more interested in the support of their families, and are not depending as much upon alms from white people as formerly. MICMACS OF QUEEN'S AND LUNENBURG COUNTIES, N.S. Vital Statistics. - There were nine deaths and eleven births during the year, which gives an increase of two to the population of the reserve. Education. - The school at Fisher's Grant is showing good results. The improvement in the manner and appearance of the children is quite evident. INDIAN ISLAND RESERVE. The reserve at Indian Island, Merigomish, has during the summer a population of about forty persons; but in the beginning of winter they remove to Pine Tree, where they are allowed by the owners of the land to build shanties. An island is not a convenient place to live on during the early part of the winter and spring. The state of the ice is dangerous, and it is not, therefore, easy to reach the mainland in case of necessity. This is the reason that they remove to the mainland in the fall. Several families of Fisher's Grant Reserve own lots of land on this island. The soil is very good, and under proper cultivation would yield profitably. I have, & c., RODERICK McDONALD, Indian Agent., Dominion of Canada, Annual Report of the Department of Indian Affairs for the year ended 30th June 1900 (Ottawa: S.E. Dawson Printer to the Queen’s Most Excellent Majesty, 1901), 72., Rev. Roderick MacDonald, Indian Agent, to Clifford Sifton, Superintendent General of Indian Affairs, September 26 1900, Annual Report of the Department of Indian Affairs for the year ended 30th June 1900 (Ottawa: S.E. Dawson Printer to the Queen’s Most Excellent Majesty, 1901)
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- 1900- Day School Report- Indian Cove School
- Reference to the Day School at Indian Cove (Fishers Grant). Gives denomination, number of pupils, attendance, subjects taught, and funding information., Dominion of Canada, Annual Report of the Department of Indian Affairs for the year ended 30th June 1900 (Ottawa: S.E. Dawson Printer to the Queen’s Most Excellent Majesty, 1901), part 2, pg. 28-29.
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- 1900-03-13
- Indian Agent McDonald reports that the land for sale by Mr. Scott (80 acres) next to reserve should be purchased. If not, it will be impossible to expand reserve in the future. Mentions interest of Indians in farming operations, but at present each family only has 1-2 acres each.
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- 1900-04-16
- Carmichael reports that he does not know enough about the issue of purchasing more lands for Pictou Landing reserves, and asks Sutherland to look into more land a Boat Harbour.
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- 1900-04-20
- Surveyor Bray mentions details of Pictou Landing Reserve: Original reserve recevied from government was 50 acres. "In 1874, a tract of 89 acres (subsequently reduced by exchange of a portion of it to 84 acres) adjoining the original reserve was prucahsed by this Dept. for the Indians at a cost of $1157.00, and again in 1888 another tract of 30 acres also adjoining the Res. was purchased at a cost of $300.00, thus making a total of $1457.00 expended by the Dept. to provide lands for these indians, in all, 164 acres." Says there is no money for purchase, so requires estimates to be made.
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- 1900-04-21
- Summary of Case of Pictou Landing request to have more land. States that the Indians have 40 acres under cultivation, and reports last years yields. Lists building present on the reserve and farming implements.
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- 1900-04-27
- Summary of lands at Pictou Landing, also states that there is no money to buy more and does not recommend approaching parliament.
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- 1901- Annual Report from Indian Agent John McLeod
- Annual Report from Indian Agent John McLeod. McLeod reported that there was not enough land for a single white family to grow crops, let alone a whole Mi'kmaq community. Details given on education, morality, and labour., NOVA SCOTIA, MICMACS OF PICTOU COUNTY, NEW GLASGOW, August 20, 1901. The Honourable The Superintendent General of Indian Affairs, Ottawa. SIR, - I beg to submit my annual report for the year ended June 30, 1901. Reserve. - The Fisher's Grant reserve, the larger of the two reserves committed to my charge, contains an area of one hundred and sixty-four acres. About thirty-five acres of this is cleared; the rest is under wood. The land is strewn with rocks and boulders and a great amount of labour is required to make it fruitful. A white could hardly wrest a living from the entire reserve for his individual family. Here dwell the greater number by far of the Micmacs in this county. They imperatively need more land. The smaller reserve at Indian Island, Merigomish, has at present a population of thirty-three persons. The amount of land cultivated here is insignificant. The Indians have no means to cultivate or fertilize the land. It is their place of pilgrimage in the summer. This island is abandoned during the winter. Vital Statistics. - The population of this agency is one hundred and thirty-four. The number of births was three and deaths three. Health. - Poorly fed, housed and clad, the Indians are not very robust. Consumption finds them easy victims and here is the proper environment for its deadly work. Precautions have been taken to prevent its spread as far as circumstances permit. Resources and Occupations. - The Indians in this agency are very industrious. They make baskets and pick-handles and fish for eels when the rivers are frozen over, and occasionally they work at loading and unloading ships at Pictou Landing. Farming for the reasons given above is not remunerative. Stock. - The Indians have a few horses but no cows. Education. - Mr. John Martin, a competent teacher, holding a 'B' license, taught school during the past year with great success, and endeared himself to all by his kindness and assiduity. The children attended well and made gratifying progress. At figures they are particularly apt. Religion and Morality. - All the Indians of this agency are Roman Catholics. With very few exceptions they are sober, honest and industrious. I have, & c., JOHN D. MCLEOD, Indian Agent., Annual Report of the Department of Indian Affairs for the Year Ended June 30, 1901 (Ottawa: Dominion of Canada, 1902), 68.