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: 1883-04-17; Damaged letter, only partly readable. Discusses that the writer is unable to give information as regards to timber stocks on the Pictou Landing reserve.

: 1883-04-20; Letter states that Agent McDonald requested permission for Indians at Pictou Landing to buy 30 acres of land from a settler named Smith Copeland for $300 to add timber for fire and fencing to the reserve. Writer asks for McDonald's opinion, whether the reserve and the two others (islands A and B, which he states are vacated) requires more timber.

: 1884- Census of Indian Population in Nova Scotia; General census return for Indian Population in Nova Scotia., "Micmacs of Pictou County...180" (185)., Annual Report of the Department of Indian Affairs for the Year Ended 31st December 1884 (Ottawa: Dominion of Canada, 1885), 185.

: 1884- Excerpt from Annual Report; The Indians whose reserve is situated on Fisher's Grant, near Pictou, compete with their white neighbours in almost every branch of labor; and the change that has occurred within the last ten or fifteen years in their mode of obtaining a subsistence is graphically described in the report of the Rev. R. Macdonald, the Indian Agent for the district, which will be found among the Appendices published herewith. The school on the reserve is managed with efficiency, but the irregular attendance of the pupils prevents much progress being made by them. These Indians cultivate but little land. They, however, increased the quantity of arable land on their reserve by breaking up new soil during the past year to the extent of two acres., Annual Report of the Department of Indian Affairs for the Year Ended 31st December 1884 (Ottawa: Dominion of Canada, 1885), xxvii.

: 1884- Financial Ledger- Food Relief and Seed Grain for Pictou County Indians; Financial return listing seed grain and relief expended in Pictou County by Indian Agent McDonald., "Rev. R. McDonald...In district No. 8...Expended by Agents in the purchase of supplies of Food and Seed Grain, in the following proportions...Food Etc. $115.36...Seed Grain...$103.00" (119)., Annual Report of the Department of Indian Affairs for the Year Ended 31st December 1884 (Ottawa: Dominion of Canada, 1885), 119.

: 1884- Report from Indian Agent McDonald, Indian Agent Pictou County; Annual report sent to Department of Indian Affairs by Indian Agent McDonald. Discussed the "changes" that occurred in Pictou Landing during the last two decades. Stated that Mi'kmaq from this reserve work competitively in several occupations, including coopering, ship building, fishing, mining, agriculture, and carpentry. Also contains a thorough discussion of St. Anne's Day on Chapel Island., PICTOU, N.S., 30th August, 1884. The Right Honourable The Superintendent General of Indian Affairs. Ottawa. SIR, - Changes in the habits of the Micmac tribe of Indians are so slow of accomplishment that one finds scarcely anything to note from one year to another. If, however, a comparison be made with a period ten or fifteen years past, the difference between then and now is obvious enough to make a decided impression on the most careless observer. A change has certainly been effected in the mean time; but like everything else in which the tribe acts a part, it has been produced so gradually and noiselessly that we become aware of its existence only by comparing the state of facts before us with what our memory calls to recollection. A very few years ago, the Micmac tribe was entirely engaged in basket making and coopering. A desultory essay by way of fishing with hook and line in the deep sea, was the only variation in their monotonous life. Hunting, of course, they followed, as they still to some extent do, at special seasons; but their staple avocation was as described. Wood was plenty and within available distance of the towns, in which they found their principal market. With the disappearance of the forest, the Micmac found his ancient occupation gone, and necessity constrained him to exert his energies in a new direction. He began to appear in other fields of labor, so that to-day, there is no employment in which he does not compete, occasionally at least with his white brethern. He enters the mine, he works on a farm, he is a wharf builder, he makes boats, he is a self-taught, but skilful house and ship carpenter. Withal, he is the least troublesome to law officials, and the least offensive to his fellow men, of all Her Majesty's subjects. An occasional indulgence in intoxicating liquids - and this is growing rarer every day - is the only cause that ever brings him into acquaintance with a bailiff or policeman. His honesty amid great want and frequent privation is proverbial. I have never known a single case of theft to have occurred in the tribe. In his dealings with traders who give him credit for the merchandise he purchases, he may be dilatory in meeting his engagements to make payments; but he never pleads the statute of limitation. His money may be slow of coming, but it is sure in the end. St. Anne's Day, July 26th, is his greatest festival - his Christmas, New Year, and Thanksgiving combined. He repairs to his church, usually built on a picturesque island, and always on this occasion draped out with tasteful ornaments and finery, that is not by any means tawdry or otherwise inappropriate. Wild flowers deck the altar, and arches of evergreen lead to the entrance. He is dressed in his best, and his wife and daughters exhibit their well-preserved silks in a profusion that causes envy to many a peasant girl. The festival over, and his religious exercises very earnestly performed, he returns to his usual habitation and to whatever avocation he may have found best adapted to the securing of a livelihood. In years past, he used to wander through the forest, or pass in a canoe from headland to headland, pitching his wigwam where be passed the night, and never remaining long in one place. Of late, he has become settled in his habits, and dwells from year to year in the same locality. He builds a house and makes it comfortable. St. Anne's Day alone calls him forth from his home. He reverences his chief, and consults him in every serious undertaking. The young suitor gets his leave before uniting his fate with the dusky maiden who has won his regard. The chief's word is law when it is uttered; but custom and the unwritten traditions of the race, effectually dissuade that important dignitary from interposing his awful authority in other than matters of weighty import. And all the time the chief, notwithstanding the power he exercises, is to ill appearance an ordinary Indian working at his trade, and eking out a precarious subsistence, undistinguishable from the subjects who acknowledge his dominion. In the district under my supervision, very little farming, comparatively speaking, is carried on. A few persons cultivate potatoes enough for their own use, and one or two raise wheat. The lands reserved for them are not sufficiently extensive to admit of wider agricultural operations. On the Pictou Reserve they have a small village and school, which latter, however, is not as well attended as the attainments and industry of the teacher should command, - still it is doing much good. I have filled up the returns sent from the Department, and mail them herewith. I have the honour to be, Yours most respectfully, RODERICK McDONALD, Indian Agent, District No. 8" (43-44)., Annual Report of the Department of Indian Affairs for the Year Ended 31st December 1884 (Ottawa: Dominion of Canada, 1885), 43-44., Rev. Roderick MacDonald, Indian Agent, to Sir John A. MacDonald, Superintendent General of Indian Affairs, August 30th 1884, Annual Report of the Department of Indian Affairs for the Year Ended 31st December 1884 (Ottawa: Dominion of Canada, 1885), 43-44.

: 1885- Annual Report for Pictou County Indians; Annual Report from Roderick McDonald, Indian Agent for Pictou County., PICTOU, N.S., 24th October, 1885 The Right Honorable The Superintendent-General of Indian Affairs, Ottawa. SIR, - I have the honor to transmit the following report for the year ended 30th, June, 1885. The remarks about the condition of the Indians can vary but little from those of the year preceding. There has been no school taught on the reserve since last fall. The teacher who has taught for some time past has resigned her position for another calling, and no one, as yet, can be found to take her place. The progress of the children at school was very slow on account of irregular attendance. Little more interest than in other years is manifested in farming, and keeping their fields well fenced. As they keep no cattle there is a great drawback in the want of manure to enrich the soil. The crop consists principally of potatoes and wheat, and with these they are fairly successful. They attend to their other avocations, such as fishing, coopering, & c., very industriously; but although they earn a good deal of money,they have no facility in economizing. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, RODERICK McDONALD, Agent, District No. 8., Annual Report of the Department of Indian Affairs for the Year Ended 31st December 1885 (Ottawa: Dominion of Canada, 1886), 96.

: 1885- Census of Indians in Pictou County; General population census of Mi'kmaq in Pictou County., "Micmacs of Pictou...189" (193)., Annual Report of the Department of Indian Affairs for the Year Ended 31st December 1885 (Ottawa: Dominion of Canada, 1886), 193.

: 1885- Financial Return for Medical Services Provided to Mi'kmaq of Pictou County; Financial Record showing reimbursement for medical services provided to Mi'kmaq of Pictou County., J. McMillan…Medical officer…$42.00…Pictou…District No. 8 for Indians of Pictou and Vicinity (Annual Salary for Medical Services provided to Indians), Annual Report of the Department of Indian Affairs for the Year Ended 31st December 1885 (Ottawa: Dominion of Canada, 1886), part 2, page 9.

: 1885- Financial Return- Food and Seed Grain for Pictou County Mi'kmaq; Financial Return reimbursing Indian Agent McDonald for expenditures in food and seed grain for District 8, Pictou County., “Expended by Agents in the Purchas of Supplies of Food and Seed Grain, in the following proportions…Rev. R. McDonald…District No. 8…$192.34 (Food etc.)…$103.00 (Seed Grain)" (119)., Annual Report of the Department of Indian Affairs for the Year Ended 31st December 1885 (Ottawa: Dominion of Canada, 1886), Part 2, 119.

: 1885- Report of the Superintendent of Indian Affairs; Reference to Fishers Grant School and Mi'kmaq of Pictou County in a general letter discussing Indian Affairs in Canada, "The condition of the Indians of the County of Pictou is reported to be unchanged. They derive it subsistence principally from fishing and coopering. Very little interest is manifested by them in farming. The school on the reserve at Fisher's Grant has been closed for some months. The teacher having resigned, it is not easy to obtain the services of another competent person for the position" (xxvii)., Annual Report of the Department of Indian Affairs for the Year Ended 31st December 1884 (Ottawa: Dominion of Canada, 1886), xxvii.

: 1885-04-07; Letter explains (and contains plans) for the sale of land from Mr. Robert Fraser to the Pictou Landing Indians for a "fair price" of $350 for 30 acres.

: 1886- Annual Report of the Superintendent General Indian Affairs; Mention of Fishers Grant reserve in the Annual report by the Superintendent General of Indian Affairs. Discussed agricultural growth and also difficulty with obtaining a teacher for the School., "In the County of Pictou it is gratifying to learn that there are indications of greater comfort existing among the Indians on the reserve at Fisher's Grant, but as the agent merely states the fact in his report and omits to state in what respects the same are observable, it is beyond my power to illustrate the statement. It is to be greatly deplored that the school at this reserve has remained closed for over a year, owing to an alleged difficulty in securing the services of a teacher. The population of the Indians of this county is 192. They have 25 acres under cultivation, from which they raised 920 bushels of grain, and cut 5 tons of hay. The value of the other industries pursued by them is stated to have been $800" (xxxiv).

: 1886- Financial Return for District. No. 8 (Micmacs of Pictou County); Financial return for food relief and seed grain for Pictou County Micmac., Expended by Agents in ther purchase of Supplies of food and seed grain, in the following amounts: Rev. R. McDonald…192.36 (food etc.)…103.00(seed grain)., Annual Report of the Department of Indian Affairs for the Year Ended 31st December 1886 (Ottawa: Dominion of Canada, 1887), part 2, 124.

: 1886- Population Census for MicMacs of Pictou County; General census return for Indians in the Province of Nova Scotia., "Micmacs of Pictou County...192", Annual Report of the Department of Indian Affairs for the Year Ended 31st December 1886 (Ottawa: Dominion of Canada, 1887), 227.

: 1886- Report from Roderick McDonald, Indian Agent Pictou County; Annual Letter of report from Indian Agent Roderick McDonald. Vague letter stated that "greater comfort" was perceptible for those living at the reserve in Pictou Landing, but no details were given., PICTOU, N.S., 28th September, 1886 The Right Honorable The Superintendent-General of Indian Affairs, Ottawa. SIR, - In submitting my annual report for the year ended 30th June, 1886, I beg to state that I have very little information to communicate to the Department beyond that contained in the tabular statement herewith enclosed. It is noticeable that there has been comparatively little sickness among the Indians of this district during the last two years. Indications of greater comfort among them are perceptible. I regret to have to report that owing to the difficulty of obtaining a teacher the school on the reserve has been vacant for the last year. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, RODERICK McDONALD, Indian Agent, District No., Annual Report of the Department of Indian Affairs for the Year Ended 31st December 1886 (Ottawa: Dominion of Canada, 1887), 39.

: 1886-03-30; Agent McDonald, after a few years delay, again asks for permission to purchase settler land for the reserve at Pictou Landing. He states that this will both give the Indians more resources but also save the settlers from 'annoyance' as the Indians are encroaching upon settler land to get timber.

: 1886-04-17; The Department of Indian Affairs explains that since Agent did not respond to government's request for more info in 1883, the funds are no longer available. Writer also states that the valuation on the land is too high ($350 for 30 acres), and that McDonald never answered the question whether the Pictou Landing reserves were so destitute of timber to require purchasing additional lands.

: 1886-04-17; Letter (unclear author) explains that the money for the purchase of more land for pictou landing is not available due to the time lapsed since the request. Also states that the land price is too high.

: 1887- Financial Ledger- Food and Seed Grain Expenditures for Pictou County; Financial Records containing amounts for food and seed grain given to Pictou County Mi'kmaq. Also mentions $45.00 for repairs to a building on Indian Island., Indian Island is likely the Pictou Landing Mi'kmaq reserve near Merigomish, as the expenditure was paid to Rev. R. McDonald., Annual Report of the Department of Indian Affairs for the Year Ended 31st December 1887 (Ottawa: Dominion of Canada, 1888), 125.