Nova Scotia Archives

Mi'kmaq Holdings Resource Guide

Letter from Dawson to Howe asking if the Mi'kmaq of Pictou County can expect any "Royal Bounty" this year. Tell of the need for relief, particularly clothing. There are about 62 families: 150 individuals. Says the government must purchase or otherwise acquire land in Pictou for a Mi'kmaq reserve. "Untill this be done they will not believe that Government intends doing them any good, and they will not fall in with your measures..."
view page 1 2 view transcript 1 2

close

note: transcription publicly contributed - please contact us with comments, errors or omisions

There must really be something done next year in the way of getting the Pictou Indians some land either by purchase or otherwise, I mentioned to you before that they had not a foot reserved in this County that they could call their own. Untill this be done they will not believe that Government intends doing them any good, and they will not fall in with your measures. I have no hesitation in saying this much, because I have it from the mouths of their own chief men, and also their Priest who is always supposed to be in their confidence.
I shall very soon send you an account of the few dollars I have expended for them -- I say few because i did not see any way I could do them much good this year by expending money on them.
I did not succeed in getting any of their young people instruction, but I think in another year I might get some benefit extended to them in this way.
I am yours very truly,
Jas. Dawson.


Date: 1842

Retrieval no.: Commissioner of Public Records — Mi'kmaq and Government Relations series Nova Scotia Archives RG 1 volume 432 pp. 143-144

Nova Scotia Archives — https://archives.novascotia.ca/mikmaq/archives/?ID=424

Crown copyright © 2024, Province of Nova Scotia.