Mi'kmaw Teaching and Learning Resources

From Abraham Gesner, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, to Rupert George regarding his report on the Mi'kmaq Nation including population figures for Nova Scotia, Cape Breton, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Gaspe' St. Pierre and Miquelon. Contains description of deprivation of Mi'kmaq of the lands of their forefathers.

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45
Cornwallis 29th Sept:1847.

Sir,
I have the honor to report for the information of His Excellency of the Lieutenant Governor, that I have now completed the examination of all of the Indian settlements in my district ,and a census of all the Micmacs belonging to Nova Scotia proper. I have also obtained from official and other documents, statements that are probably nearly correct in regard to the number of the whole nation. They are as follows.
Souls
Micmac Indians of Nova Scotia ...961
Cape Breton ..................500
New Brunswick .............935
District of Gaspe, Canada ...............444
St.Pierres & Miquelon Newfoundland.200
Prince Edward's Island.....................250
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Total of Micmac Nation 3290

According to old French historical accounts of Acadia, the total number of the Micmac Nation in 1745 was 15.000. Among the 961 souls of Nova Scotia proper there were in 1846 births 79 deaths 106, leaving a difference against the tribe in one year of 27.
at

Sir Rupert D George Bart
Provincial Secretary &c &c &c

Date: 1847

Retrieval no.: Commissioner of Public Records — Mi'kmaq and Government Relations series Nova Scotia Archives RG 1 volume 431 number 45

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