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- 1911- Report on Day School at Indian Cove
- Report on the operation of the day school at Indian Cove, Fisher's Grant. Stated that the school was fairly well attended, except for when "the Indians for several months of the year are obliged to move about the country to obtain work.", INDIAN COVE, PICTOU COUNTY. Miss Gertrude McGirr is still in charge of this school, which is progressing favourably considering the disadvantages to be contended with. The Indians for several months of the year are obliged to move about the country to obtain work, which accounts for the irregular attendance, but the number of pupils who have attended the school are now working steadily instead of wandering about the country., Annual Report of the Department of Indian Affairs for the Year Ended March 31 1911 (Ottawa: C.H. Parmelee, Printer to the King's Most Excellent Majesty, 1911), 297.
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- 1912- Annual Report from Indian Agent J.D. McLeod
- Annual Report from Indian Agent Rev. John McLeod. General information about farming, working, health, education, and reserve boundaries are included in this report., MICMACS OF PICTOU COUNTY, NEW GLASGOW, April 25, 1912. FRANK PEDLEY, Esq. Deputy Supt. General of Indian Affairs, Ottawa. SIR, - I have the honour to submit my annual report and statistical statement for the year ended March 31, 1912. Tribe or Nation. - All the Indians of this agency are Micmacs. Reserve. - The Indians of this agency have two reserves. The larger reserve is at Fisher Grant, near the entrance of Pictou harbour. It has an area of 200 acres. About one-fifth of it has been cultivated. It is stony and requires much fertilizing. The other reserve is near Merigomish harbour, and consists of two islands - Island A, or Chapel island, and Island B, or Morley's island. The land here is not cultivated now and a few families live on Chapel island during the summer months only. Population. - The present population of this agency is 156. Health and Sanitation. - The health of the Indians in general was good. The deaths during the year in the case of adults were caused by consumption. Occupations. - The Indians of this agency are engaged in making pit-timber, baskets, butter-tubs, pick-handles and moccasins, in farming, fishing, and occasionally, as opportunity offers, hiring as labourers. Buildings. - The Indians have a neat church on Chapel island, and a school at Fisher Grant reserve. Most of the dwellings are frame buildings, but of small proportions. Stock. - A few horses only are owned on the reserve. Farm Implements. - A few ploughs, barrows, sleighs and wagons are owned by the Indians. Characteristics and Progress. - The Indians are, as a rule, industrious and law-abiding. Temperance and Morality. - The Indians of the county, with few exceptions, are temperate, and are of good moral character. Your obedient servant, J.D. MACLEOD, Indian Agent, Annual Report of the Department of Indian Affairs for the Year Ended March 31 1912 (Ottawa: C.H. Parmelee, Printer to the King's Most Excellent Majesty, 1912), 74., J.D. MacLeod, Indian Agent, to Robert Rogers, Superintendent of Indian Affairds, April 25th 1912, Annual Report of the Department of Indian Affairs for the Year Ended March 31 1912 (Ottawa: C.H. Parmelee, Printer to the King's Most Excellent Majesty, 1912), 74.
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- 1912- Report on School at Indian Cove
- Annual Report on Residential and Day schools. Excerpt from Indian Cove School, Pictou County., INDIAN COVE, PICTOU COUNTY. Number of Children in School: 37; Number of Pupils Enrolled: 33; Average Attendance: 20; Mr. J.D. MacLeod, the agent, reports on the school in this agency as follows: - This school has, during the past year, been in charge of Miss Gertrude McGirr, who holds a grade B scholarship for the province. The number of pupils enrolled was thirty-three. The average attendance each month ranged from fifteen to twenty. During the winter months the attendance is better. The Indians move about during the winter months of the year, and engage in out-of-door work. At these times the children don't attend school so well. The intelligence of the children seems to be up to the average. The Micmac language is the sole medium of conversation at home. The children when they go to school know no other tongue and are at a great disadvantage and progress is necessarily retarded. They stop going to school also at an early age. Notwithstanding these disadvantages the school has made satisfactory progress., Annual Report of the Department of Indian Affairs for the Year Ended March 31 1912 (Ottawa: C.H. Parmelee, Printer to the King's Most Excellent Majesty, 1912), 303.
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- 1913- Annual Report from Indian Agent J.D. McLeod
- Annual Report from Indian Agent Rev. John Mcleod. Contains information on various aspects of life at Fisher's Grant Reserve, and makes special mention of Sally Paul, an elder who had passed away after living for over one hundred years. Also mentioned that many from the community worked on the construction of the "new car works" near New Glasgow., NOVA SCOTIA, MICMACS OF PICTOU COUNTY, NEW GLASGOW, April 11, 1913. FRANK PEDLEY, Esq., Deputy Supt. General of Indian Affairs, Ottawa. SIR, - I have the honour to submit my annual report and statistical statement for the year ended March 31, 1913. Tribe. - All the Indians of this agency are Micmacs. Reserve. - There are two reserves in this agency. The larger reserve at Fisher's Grant, near the mouth of Pictou harbour, comprises 200 acres. About 40 acres are cultivated. The other reserve, near Merigomish, consists of two small islands. Population. - The population at present is 170. Health and Sanitation. - The general health of the Indians has been good. Three died of pulmonary consumption. A remarkable case of longevity was that of Sally Paul, who died during the year. She was over 100 years old, and saw five generations of descendants growing up about her. Occupations. - The Indians of this agency are employed at farming, fishing, making pick handles, butter tubs and moccasins. Quite a number during the past year have worked at the construction of the new car works near New Glasgow, where they are considered a good class of labourers. Buildings. - The Indians have a large church and a school. They have nearly all frame buildings for dwellings. Stock. - They own a few horses. Farm Implements. - There are a few ploughs, harrows, sleighs and wagons owned on the reserve. Characteristics and Progress. - These Indians are as a rule industrious and all law-abiding. They are intelligent. Temperance and Morality. - They are, with two or three exceptions, men of temperate habits, and are in general of good moral character. Your obedient servant, J.D. MacLEOD, Indian Agent., Annual Report of the Department of Indian Affairs for the Year Ended March 31 1913 (Ottawa: C.H. Parmelee, Printer to the King's Most Excellent Majesty, 1913), 72-73.
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- 1913- Report on Day School at Indian Cove
- (311) INDIAN COVE, PICTOU COUNTY. NUMBER OF CHILDREN IN SCHOOL: 33; NUMBER OF PUPILS ENROLLED: 33; AVERAGE ATTENDANCE: 16; Rev. J.D. McLeod, the Indian agent, reports on the school in this agency as follows: - This school has for several years been in charge of Miss Gertrude McGirr, who holds a grade B scholarship for the province. The average attendance during the year was 16.4. Some of the children were absent from the reserve. A few families moved to the new car works at New Glasgow to work. Sometimes the children are kept at home to work, cutting wood or fishing for smelts. There were three pupils in grade VI, and three in grade VII The influence of the school in general has been highly beneficial. It is proposed to build a new handsome schoolhouse, which will greatly better conditions and promote progress.(461)Indian Cove Day School, Pictou County. I visited this school on February 14. The day was fine, yet only 9 pupils were present, out of 25 enrolled. The average attendance, however, up to that date, was 15, or 60 per cent of the number enrolled, which is considered good. The children of school age on the reserve, at the time, was reported to be 28, besides a few who were temporarily absent. What impressed me as the distinctive features of the school were untidiness, and the absence of proper discipline - two conditions which make progress in such a place difficult, if at all possible., Document from page 311 was missing on the LAC website, but if fixed in future can be found here : http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/aboriginal-heritage/first-nations/indian-affairs-annual-reports/Pages/item.aspx?IdNumber=25762, Annual Report of the Department of Indian Affairs for the Year Ended March 31 1913 (Ottawa: C.H. Parmelee, Printer to the King's Most Excellent Majesty, 1913), 313,461.
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- 1914- Annual Report from Indian Agent J.D. McLeod
- Annual Report from Indian Agent Rev. McLeod for the year 1914., REPORT OF REV. JOHN D. MACLEOD, INDIAN AGENT FOR PICTOU COUNTY, NOVA SCOTIA. Tribe. - All the Indians in this agency are Micmacs. Health and Sanitation. - During the past year, the health of the Indians in general has been good. There was no epidemic or contagious disease. The precautions to prevent infection in the case of consumptive patients have been to a large extent observed. Occupations. - The Indians of this agency are engaged in various occupations, such as farming, fishing, making moccasins, baskets, butter-tubs, pick-handles, and hiring out as labourers. Buildings. - Most of the houses are frame buildings of small size. A good schoolhouse was built during the past year, an improvement much appreciated. Stock. - A few horses and some young cattle are owned on the reserve, they are well cared for. Farm Implements. - The farm implements are a few ploughs, harrows, wagons, and a cultivator. Characteristics and Progress. - The Indians are as a rule industrious and law-abiding. They cannot be said to be advancing very rapidly; however, I think, there is some perceptible progress. Temperance and Morality. - The Indians are, with few exceptions, temperate and of good moral character., Annual Report of the Department of Indian Affairs for the Year Ended March 31 1914 (Ottawa: J. De L. Tache, Printer to the King's Most Excellent Majesty, 1914), 36-37.
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- 1914- Report on Day School at Indian Cove
- Report on the Day School at Indian Cove, Fisher's Grant., PICTOU COUNTY. Rev. J.D. MacLeod, Indian agent, reports on educational matters in this agency as follows: - Indian Cove Day School. This school has been in charge of Miss Gertrude McGirr for several years. Satisfactory work has been done and the pupils are progressing. Eight children live so far away in other settlements that it is quite impossible for them to attend school on the reserve. Micmac is the language exclusively spoken at home. When the children first go to school they do not understand a word of English. This necessarily retards progress in the primary grades. There are five pupils in grade VI, and two in grade V. Former pupils of the school who have grown to adult age are quite intelligent and their influence on the community must necessarily be beneficial., Annual Report of the Department of Indian Affairs for the Year Ended March 31 1914 (Ottawa: J. De L. Tache, Printer to the King's Most Excellent Majesty, 1914), 119.
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- 1915- Annual Report from Indian Agent J.D. McLeod TEST
- Annual Report from Indian Agent Rev. J.D. McLeod, reporting on various aspects of life at Fisher's Grant Reserve., REPORT OF REV. J.D. MACLEOD, INDIAN AGENT FOR PICTOU COUNTY, NOVA SCOTIA. Health and Sanitation. - The health of these Indians during the past year has been good. There was one case of measles, but it did not spread. Three adults died of consumption. Sanitary precautions are better observed year by year. Occupations. - These Indians are employed in various avocations. Farming, making pick and axe handles, butter tubs, fishing and hiring out as labourers are chiefly the means of livelihood. During the past year the demand for woodwork was limited on account of the prevailing industrial depression. They depended almost entirely during the winter months on smelt-fishing. The Indians here are favourably situated for sea-fishing, but they have not the means to buy boats and gear. The women help much by making baskets and moccasins. Farm Machinery and Implements. - They have a few agricultural implements, and these are well cared for. Buildings. - The houses are nearly all small frame buildings. Characteristics and Progress. - They are as a rule industrious and law-abiding. They are intelligent. The young men dress well, and are keen lovers of hockey and baseball. Temperance and Morality. - They are a peaceful, temperate community. The appointment of a local constable on the reservation has had a good effect., :, Annual Report of the Department of Indian Affairs for the Year Ended March 31 1914 (Ottawa: J. De L. Tache, Printer to the King's Most Excellent Majesty, 1914), 36-37., Annual Report of the Department of Indian Affairs for the Year Ended March 31 1915 (Ottawa: J. De L. Tache, Printer to the King's Most Excellent Majesty, 1915), 72-73., Annual Report of the Department of Indian Affairs for the Year Ended March 31 1915 (Ottawa: J. De L. Tache, Printer to the King's Most Excellent Majesty, 1915), 32-33., Annual Report of the Department of Indian Affairs for the Year Ended March 31 1915 (Ottawa: J. De L. Tache, Printer to the King's Most Excellent Majesty, 1915), 32-33., Annual Report of the Department of Indian Affairs for the Year Ended March 31 1915 (Ottawa: J. De L. Tache, Printer to the King's Most Excellent Majesty, 1915), 32-33., Annual Report of the Department of Indian Affairs for the Year Ended March 31 1915 (Ottawa: J. De L. Tache, Printer to the King's Most Excellent Majesty, 1915), 36-37.
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- 1915- Report on Day School at Indian Cove
- Excerpt from annual inspection report of Indian Schools in Nova Scotia., PICTOU COUNTY. Rev. J.D. McLeod, the Indian agent, reports on the educational work in this agency as follows: - Indian Cove Day School. This school is on the Fisher's Grant reserve. The teacher, Miss G. McGirr, has had considerable experience in teaching Indians. The school is very comfortable and is neatly kept. The chief difficulty in teaching the children here is that they are ignorant of the English language owing to the fact that Mic-mac is spoken exclusively in their homes. In these circumstances the children make reasonable progress. They are docile and well-behaved. NUMBER OF CHILDREN OF SCHOOL AGE: 45; NUMBER OF PUPILS ENROLLED: 32; AVERAGE ATTENDANCE: 19., Annual Report of the Department of Indian Affairs for the Year Ended March 31 1915 (Ottawa: J. De L. Tache, Printer to the King's Most Excellent Majesty, 1915), 130.
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- 1916- Annual Report from Indian Agent J.D. McLeod
- Annual Report from Indian Agent Rev. J.D. McLeod, reporting on various aspects of life at Fisher's Grant Reserve for the year 1916., REPORT OF REV. T.D. MACLEOD, INDIAN AGENT FOR PICTOU COUNTY, NOVA SCOTIA. Tribe. - All the Indians in this agency are Micmacs. Occupations. - These Indians are engaged in farming, fishing, making baskets and pick-handles, and hiring as labourers. Not a few work at the steel works at New Glasgow. Many during the past summer found employment loading steamers at Pictou and Pictou Landing with lumber, and products of Nova Scotia Steel Company. The smelt- fishing was not a success during the past season. The Indians have no boats or nets for sea fishing. This, it is thought, would be a profitable source of employment if they had the means. The women help in making baskets and moccasins. Farm Implements. - The Indians take good care of their farm implements such as ploughs, harrows, wagons, and cultivators. Buildings. - All the houses with few exceptions are frame buildings of small size and fairly comfortable. Health and Sanitation. - The health of the Indians has been good. Precautions are taken in avoiding infection in cases of tuberculosis. Characteristics and Progress. - The Indians are industrious with few exceptions. The younger men show a more progressive spirit and are anxious to secure more permanent and lucrative occupations at nearby industries to build better dwellings and to live up to a higher standard of life. Temperance, and Morality. - The large majority of the Indians are temperate. There are but few exceptions. Their morals with rare exceptions are very good., Annual Report of the Department of Indian Affairs for the Year Ended March 31 1916 (Ottawa: J. De L. Tache, Printer to the King's Most Excellent Majesty, 1916), 35.
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- 1916- Report on School at Indian Cove, Pictou County
- Annual Report pertaining to the Day School at Indian Cove, Fisher's Grant., PICTOU COUNTY. Number of pupils of school age, 46; number of pupils enrolled, 26; average attendance, 18. Rev. J.D. McLeod, the Indian agent, reports on the educational work in this agency as follows: - Indian Cove Day School. This school is on the Fisher's Grant reserve. It is a modernly constructed building, large; well ventilated and comfortable. For some years the school has been in charge of Miss Gertrude McGirr, who holds a grade "B" provincial scholarship. Owing to the migratory habits of the Indian families, it is difficult to secure regular attendance. Those children who attend regularly are progressing. satisfactorily. General Remarks. The careful education of the children by a conscientious teacher has a very good effect on the reserve life., Annual Report of the Department of Indian Affairs for the Year Ended March 31 1916 (Ottawa: J. De L. Tache, Printer to the King's Most Excellent Majesty, 1916), 127.
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- 1919- Record of Pictou County Mi'kmaq who served in First World War
- Excerpt from report on Indigenous people who served in the First World War. Ten men from Fisher's Grant served on the front lines during the conflict., MARITIME PROVINCES. All the Indians of the Maritime Provinces belong to the Micmac tribe, which is a subdivision of the Algonkin linguistic stock, with the exception of the Maliseets of New Brunswick, who form a separate branch of the Algonkin race. The Nova Scotia reserves are not very thickly populated, and in consequence the number of recruits secured upon them was numerically small. In a number of instances, however, the enlistment record in proportion to the population was very high, for example, from among the Micmacs of Sydney every eligible man went to the front. The Micmacs of Colchester county sent nine men from a total adult male population of twenty-five; the Micmacs of Hants county sent six from a total adult male population of sixteen; the Micmacs of Lunenburg county sent eleven from a total adult male population of nineteen; the Micmacs of Pictou county sent ten from a total adult male population of forty; the Micmacs of Shelburne county sent three from a total adult male population of eight; the Micmacs of Yarmouth county sent three from a total adult male population of twelve, and the Micmacs of Digby county sent six from a total adult male population of twenty-four. One of these Nova Scotia Indians, Private Joseph W. Morris, was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal and the Military Medal. He was three times wounded., Annual Report of the Department of Indian Affairs for the Year Ended March 31 1919 (Ottawa: J. De L. Tache, Printer to the King's Most Excellent Majesty, 1919), 18.