Mi'kmaw Teaching and Learning Resources

Letter from Joseph Howe to John Whidden regarding Pictou Mi'kmaq requesting Whidden bring Dawson's recommendation for a reserve at Barneys River to the attention of the Lt. Gov. to get him to do a survey as quickly as possible.

view page 1 2 view transcript 1 2

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

or 100 acres which will serve for a summer residence while they pursue the shore fishery and vend their various domestic manufactures, -- this lot would also serve for training them to farming occupations to prepare them for permanent residence on their grant.
I intend to get a petition to the Legislature signed by all the respectable inhabitants -- setting forth their destitute situation and praying aid to procuring the necessary land for them in Summer -- this will help to strengthen your hands in procuring a liberal grant for the service next year.
I will be happy to see you here next spring -- which I hope will be as early as you can find it convenient.
I am yours respectfully
Jas. Dawson.

---
To John Whidden Esq d.
---
Sir
The Pictou Indians are without any land none having been reserved for them in that County, -- though numerous they have no property to improve

Date: 1842

Retrieval no.: Commissioner of Public Records — Mi'kmaq and Government Relations series Nova Scotia Archives RG 1 volume 432 pp. 148-149

Questions to Consider

When do you think the document was written?

Who do you think wrote the document?

Why do you think the document was written

Who do you think received the document?

Who do you think this document was written for?

What information do you think this document provides? What do you think it tells us about the past?

How do you think the document reflects the attitudes and values of the time period in which it was written?

What impact do you think the document had at the time it was written?

Do you think those were different impacts for different people?