Nova Scotia Archives

Mi'kmaw Teaching and Learning Resources

Letter from James Uniacke, Commissioner of Crown Lands, to Lewis M. Wilkins, Provincial Secretary, regarding Chearnley's request to prosecute Webber et al for trespassing. Mentions trespasses of "Gould" [Gold] River Mi'kmaq reserve, Whycocomagh, Wagmatcook, and Margaree reserves in Cape Breton reported by Crawley and Fr. Courteau. Requests legislation making it a criminal offense to "enclose" land or water reserved for the Mi'kmaq punishable on summary proceeding.
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ted by Wm Archibald when Attorney General and ejected by the Sheriff and returned immediately after and took possession again. I must beg his Excellency to pay attention to the claim of these poor people and to give such orders as may retain the lands set apart for them. I think a bill should be introduced and passed making it criminal to enclose the lands and waters. Reserved for the Indians and affording a summary proceeding before a justice to dispossess intruders and to [make?] the action [transitory?] instead of local as the legal proceedings now are.
I am Sir Y[ou]r Ob[e]d[ien]t Serv[an]t
James B Uniacke
Com of Cr lands


The Hon[ora]ble
LM Wilkins
Prov. Secretary


Date: 1854

Retrieval no.: Commissioner of Public Records — Mi'kmaq and Government Relations series Nova Scotia Archives RG 1 volume 431 number 83

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