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- 1883- Letter from Indian Agent of Antigonish District
- Letter from Indian Agent of Antigonish mentioned that a delegation from Pictou Landing attended the funeral and subsequent celebrations for the deceased Chief Christopher Prosper. Letter highlights the "honor and respect which the Micmac accords to his chief.", POMQUET CHAPEL, ANTIGONISH Co. N.S., 25th September 1883. The Right Honorable The Superintendent-General of Indian Affairs, Ottawa. SIR, - I have little to add by way of supplement to the tabular statement which I have the honor to transmit to you. Time which brings with it so many signs of material progress among their white brethren, works but little change in the habits of the Micmac Indian. In almost every respect those of to-day, show the same natural proclivities and predilections as their fathers did. The same love for roving about in bands from place to place, the same aversion to a settled life and the cultivation of the soil, which characterized the Indians of former days, still continues in a greater or less degree to actuate their descendants. The woods and rivers now no longer afford them the game and fish from which formerly they derived their principal means of subsistence. They have, on this account, become more dependent upon the whites, and have their business so continuously with them that they gradually and imperceptibly are induced to adopt at least some of their habits, not so much indeed from choice or inclination as from the force of circumstances. They have, indeed, a few houses among them, and, as can be seen by the tabular statement, they clear yearly small patches of woodland and increase their cultivated land by one or two acres. They plant in the same spot each succeeding year till it -runs out and can no longer yield. The idea of a rotation of crops has not found its way into their system of farming. They occupy their houses only during a few months of the year; they for the most part prefer the smoky wigwam and bed of spruce boughs to the comforts and refinements, so prized by their white brethren. Christopher Prosper who had been chief of the Indians of this district for more than twelve years, died last June after a long illness. He died of consumption, a disease which, more than any other, is fatal to the Indians of these places, and which they themselves say was hardly known to their grandfathers. When it became known that Chief Prosper's end was near, deputations were sent to the neighbouring chiefs of Cape Breton and Pictou; these came to Afton, the late chief's residence, with a large retinue of captains and other dignitaries, where they stayed for several weeks, till after the demise and funeral of the late chief. The beat house of the village was set apart, for their use and they were treated in a becoming princely manner during their stay by voluntary contributions from the richest among the late chief's subjects. It is only on an occasion of this kind that one can observe the honor and respect which the Micmac accords to his chief. On the 26th July, the national festival of the tribe, the Indians of the district, assembled at the Chapel Reserve, formally elected as their new chief Peter Ben, a young man, supposed to be possessed of more than ordinary administrative abilities, and who is nearly related to the late Chief Prosper. I have now only to say that while I am not able to report any substantial improvement in the material condition of our Indians here it is a matter of congratulation to be in a position to affirm that in regard to morality they at least show no change for the worse. It would be hard to find any where a people among whom the precepts of nature and religion are more faithfully observed. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, Wm. CHISHOLM, Indian Agent., Annual Report of the Department of Indian Affairs for the Year Ended 31st December, 1883 (Ottawa: Dominion of Canada, 1884), 40-41.
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- 1883- Report of Roderick McDonald, Indian Agent, Pictou County
- Letter written by Indian Agent Roderick McDonald reporting on the Mi'kmaq of Pictou Landing. Mentions of industry, farming, alcohol consumption, and the school., PICTOU, N.S., 27th August, 1883. The Right Honorable The Superintendent-General of Indian Affairs, Ottawa. SIR, - With the tabular statement for the year ended 30th June, I have the honor to transmit to you my Report upon Indian affairs in district No. 8. It is difficult to add anything new to the many reports that have already been transmitted to your Department. A glance at the tabular statement will show that the death list has exceeded that of births. Consumption is the prevailing disease among the Indians, owing to the fact of its being hereditary in some families; to frequent exposure to wet and cold; to insufficiency of clothing during the cold weather, and to want of proper attendance and nourishing diet in the incipiency of the disease. A slight departure from primitive habits is noticeable, for not a few may be seen employed at the coal wharves, at the local tanneries, at the steel works, and other employments. This may be a circumstance of necessity, for the Indian has no relish for hard work. The other remunerative employments in which they engage are fishing in the summer season; coopering and making pick handles for the coal mines in the winter. Notwithstanding the difficulties in this way they are gradually imbibing a taste cultivating the soil. Were it not for the encouragement given by the Government by way of money grants very few would sow or plant. The two hundred acres, with the exception of thirty given to the Indians for the purpose of farming, are stoney and covered with woods. They lack courage and perseverance to clear such land and render it fit for cropping. This is the reason why no more than a few patches are taken in each year. Another difficulty also standing in the way, is the want of fertilizers. Kelp is the only available fertilizer, and as it does not drift ashore in sufficient quantities the seeds must largely be entrusted to the native producing qualities of the soil, which of necessity will soon be exhausted. It is almost impossible to enforce the Act of Parliament forbidding the sale of liquors to Indians. The sellers are always on their guard, and the Indian will never act as an informer. With the co-operation of the chief and the captains, I administered the total abstinence pledge to them all, both men and women. With the majority sobriety is a prevailing virtue. The school is taught by miss Jollymore at Indian Cove is somewhat insufficient for want of proper attendance by the pupils. This is owing in a great measure to indifference on the part of the parents and to their Wandering habits during the summer season. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your obedient servant. RODERICK McDONALD, Indian Agent., Annual Report of the Department of Indian Affairs for the Year Ended 31st December, 1883 (Ottawa: Dominion of Canada, 1884), 24-25.
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- 1883- Showing the Condition of the Various Indian Schools in the Dominion
- Annual Tabular report showing information for school and Indian Cove, Fisher's Grant Reserve., "Indian Cove, K. Jolllymore (Teacher), $100.00 (Salary), Consolidated fund (Reserve on which situated and from which paid), 20 (Number of pupils on roll), 6 (daily average attendance), 10 (number reading and spelling), 3 (number writing), 16 (number learning arithmetic)" (178-179)., Annual Report of the Department of Indian Affairs for the Year Ended 31st December, 1883 (Ottawa: Dominion of Canada, 1884), 178-179.
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- 1883-03-24
- Chief and Captain of Pictou Landing Indian Band requested that Indian Agent MacDonald request that the Department of Indian Affairs allot $3000 to purchase 30 acres of woodland for the purpose of providing fuel and fence posts for the reserve., "Sir: The Chief and the Captain consider that there is a scarcity of wood for fuel and poles for fencing their reserve at Pictou, and if [] season they asked me to communicate with the Department and ascertain if would be willing to grant the sum of $300.00 to purchase a piece of land containing about thirty acres. This lost, owned by Mr. Smth Copeland..."
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- 1883-04-17
- Damaged letter, only partly readable. Discusses that the writer is unable to give information as regards to timber stocks on the Pictou Landing reserve.
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- 1883-04-20
- Letter states that Agent McDonald requested permission for Indians at Pictou Landing to buy 30 acres of land from a settler named Smith Copeland for $300 to add timber for fire and fencing to the reserve. Writer asks for McDonald's opinion, whether the reserve and the two others (islands A and B, which he states are vacated) requires more timber.
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- 1884- Census of Indian Population in Nova Scotia
- General census return for Indian Population in Nova Scotia., "Micmacs of Pictou County...180" (185)., Annual Report of the Department of Indian Affairs for the Year Ended 31st December 1884 (Ottawa: Dominion of Canada, 1885), 185.
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- 1884- Excerpt from Annual Report
- The Indians whose reserve is situated on Fisher's Grant, near Pictou, compete with their white neighbours in almost every branch of labor; and the change that has occurred within the last ten or fifteen years in their mode of obtaining a subsistence is graphically described in the report of the Rev. R. Macdonald, the Indian Agent for the district, which will be found among the Appendices published herewith. The school on the reserve is managed with efficiency, but the irregular attendance of the pupils prevents much progress being made by them. These Indians cultivate but little land. They, however, increased the quantity of arable land on their reserve by breaking up new soil during the past year to the extent of two acres., Annual Report of the Department of Indian Affairs for the Year Ended 31st December 1884 (Ottawa: Dominion of Canada, 1885), xxvii.
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- 1884- Financial Ledger- Food Relief and Seed Grain for Pictou County Indians
- Financial return listing seed grain and relief expended in Pictou County by Indian Agent McDonald., "Rev. R. McDonald...In district No. 8...Expended by Agents in the purchase of supplies of Food and Seed Grain, in the following proportions...Food Etc. $115.36...Seed Grain...$103.00" (119)., Annual Report of the Department of Indian Affairs for the Year Ended 31st December 1884 (Ottawa: Dominion of Canada, 1885), 119.
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- 1884- Report from Indian Agent McDonald, Indian Agent Pictou County
- Annual report sent to Department of Indian Affairs by Indian Agent McDonald. Discussed the "changes" that occurred in Pictou Landing during the last two decades. Stated that Mi'kmaq from this reserve work competitively in several occupations, including coopering, ship building, fishing, mining, agriculture, and carpentry. Also contains a thorough discussion of St. Anne's Day on Chapel Island., PICTOU, N.S., 30th August, 1884. The Right Honourable The Superintendent General of Indian Affairs. Ottawa. SIR, - Changes in the habits of the Micmac tribe of Indians are so slow of accomplishment that one finds scarcely anything to note from one year to another. If, however, a comparison be made with a period ten or fifteen years past, the difference between then and now is obvious enough to make a decided impression on the most careless observer. A change has certainly been effected in the mean time; but like everything else in which the tribe acts a part, it has been produced so gradually and noiselessly that we become aware of its existence only by comparing the state of facts before us with what our memory calls to recollection. A very few years ago, the Micmac tribe was entirely engaged in basket making and coopering. A desultory essay by way of fishing with hook and line in the deep sea, was the only variation in their monotonous life. Hunting, of course, they followed, as they still to some extent do, at special seasons; but their staple avocation was as described. Wood was plenty and within available distance of the towns, in which they found their principal market. With the disappearance of the forest, the Micmac found his ancient occupation gone, and necessity constrained him to exert his energies in a new direction. He began to appear in other fields of labor, so that to-day, there is no employment in which he does not compete, occasionally at least with his white brethern. He enters the mine, he works on a farm, he is a wharf builder, he makes boats, he is a self-taught, but skilful house and ship carpenter. Withal, he is the least troublesome to law officials, and the least offensive to his fellow men, of all Her Majesty's subjects. An occasional indulgence in intoxicating liquids - and this is growing rarer every day - is the only cause that ever brings him into acquaintance with a bailiff or policeman. His honesty amid great want and frequent privation is proverbial. I have never known a single case of theft to have occurred in the tribe. In his dealings with traders who give him credit for the merchandise he purchases, he may be dilatory in meeting his engagements to make payments; but he never pleads the statute of limitation. His money may be slow of coming, but it is sure in the end. St. Anne's Day, July 26th, is his greatest festival - his Christmas, New Year, and Thanksgiving combined. He repairs to his church, usually built on a picturesque island, and always on this occasion draped out with tasteful ornaments and finery, that is not by any means tawdry or otherwise inappropriate. Wild flowers deck the altar, and arches of evergreen lead to the entrance. He is dressed in his best, and his wife and daughters exhibit their well-preserved silks in a profusion that causes envy to many a peasant girl. The festival over, and his religious exercises very earnestly performed, he returns to his usual habitation and to whatever avocation he may have found best adapted to the securing of a livelihood. In years past, he used to wander through the forest, or pass in a canoe from headland to headland, pitching his wigwam where be passed the night, and never remaining long in one place. Of late, he has become settled in his habits, and dwells from year to year in the same locality. He builds a house and makes it comfortable. St. Anne's Day alone calls him forth from his home. He reverences his chief, and consults him in every serious undertaking. The young suitor gets his leave before uniting his fate with the dusky maiden who has won his regard. The chief's word is law when it is uttered; but custom and the unwritten traditions of the race, effectually dissuade that important dignitary from interposing his awful authority in other than matters of weighty import. And all the time the chief, notwithstanding the power he exercises, is to ill appearance an ordinary Indian working at his trade, and eking out a precarious subsistence, undistinguishable from the subjects who acknowledge his dominion. In the district under my supervision, very little farming, comparatively speaking, is carried on. A few persons cultivate potatoes enough for their own use, and one or two raise wheat. The lands reserved for them are not sufficiently extensive to admit of wider agricultural operations. On the Pictou Reserve they have a small village and school, which latter, however, is not as well attended as the attainments and industry of the teacher should command, - still it is doing much good. I have filled up the returns sent from the Department, and mail them herewith. I have the honour to be, Yours most respectfully, RODERICK McDONALD, Indian Agent, District No. 8" (43-44)., Annual Report of the Department of Indian Affairs for the Year Ended 31st December 1884 (Ottawa: Dominion of Canada, 1885), 43-44., Rev. Roderick MacDonald, Indian Agent, to Sir John A. MacDonald, Superintendent General of Indian Affairs, August 30th 1884, Annual Report of the Department of Indian Affairs for the Year Ended 31st December 1884 (Ottawa: Dominion of Canada, 1885), 43-44.
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- 1885- Annual Report for Pictou County Indians
- Annual Report from Roderick McDonald, Indian Agent for Pictou County., PICTOU, N.S., 24th October, 1885 The Right Honorable The Superintendent-General of Indian Affairs, Ottawa. SIR, - I have the honor to transmit the following report for the year ended 30th, June, 1885. The remarks about the condition of the Indians can vary but little from those of the year preceding. There has been no school taught on the reserve since last fall. The teacher who has taught for some time past has resigned her position for another calling, and no one, as yet, can be found to take her place. The progress of the children at school was very slow on account of irregular attendance. Little more interest than in other years is manifested in farming, and keeping their fields well fenced. As they keep no cattle there is a great drawback in the want of manure to enrich the soil. The crop consists principally of potatoes and wheat, and with these they are fairly successful. They attend to their other avocations, such as fishing, coopering, & c., very industriously; but although they earn a good deal of money,they have no facility in economizing. I have the honor 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 1885 (Ottawa: Dominion of Canada, 1886), 96.
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- 1885- Census of Indians in Pictou County
- General population census of Mi'kmaq in Pictou County., "Micmacs of Pictou...189" (193)., Annual Report of the Department of Indian Affairs for the Year Ended 31st December 1885 (Ottawa: Dominion of Canada, 1886), 193.