Nova Scotia Archives
Mi'kmaw Teaching and Learning Resources
Letter from James Dawson of Pictou to Joseph Howe regarding the "civilization" [i.e. assimilation] of the Mi'kmaq.
note: transcription publicly contributed - please contact us with comments, errors or omisions
to read and write in English, the use of the spade, hoe and axe, beside the handicraft their fathers already know. The girls should be taught to sew, spin and knit [etc] and some wool should annually be furnished to them in exchange for a part of their wares for this purpose, and all these things should be understood to be but preliminary to their settling on a piece of land and ultimately adopting regular civilized habits, while in the mean time their comfort will be secured.
I am yours truly
Jas. Dawson.
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From Mr Dawson
Pictou 19th May 1842
Hon. Jos. Howe
Sear Sir,
Yours of the 6th inst. was duly received, and would have been replied to before this, had it not been that I was in expectation of an interview with the Rev. W. O'Reilly in which I have been disappointed -- he has been at Merigomish all this month. I have wrote him and expect to see him soon. In the mean time I have got the enclosed memorandum from the Record Office
Date: 1842
Retrieval no.: Commissioner of Public Records — Mi'kmaq and Government Relations series Nova Scotia Archives RG 1 volume 432 pp. 127-129
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