Annual letter from Rev. R. McDonald, reporting on the Mi'kmaq in District No. 8, Pictou County. McDonald made several interesting comments regarding the falling use of wig wams, as well as the erection of a "glebe house" for the use of the priest on Indian Island.
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PICTOU, N.S., 3rd November, 1890.
The Honourable
The Superintendent General of Indian Affairs, Ottawa.
SIR, - I have the honour to submit my annual report, with tabular statement, of Indian affairs in this district.
I have much reason to be pleased with the progress shown by the Indians of my agency. It is true that a few among them show occasional signs of drunkenness when they frequent the towns and villages, but the general tendency is towards sobriety; and I am not aware that we have an habitual drunkard on the whole reserve, and they are also exceptionally moral in other respects.
The general appearance of their houses and,surroundings indicates a desire for ordinary comforts. The wigwams are fast being dispensed with, and comfortable houses taking their place.
It is difficult to instil into their minds the necessity for making provision for the future. They are sufficiently industrious, but lack economy. Comparing the present with the past, I feel confident that physically and morally there is a steady improvement going on.
There has been, no school among them for the last four years for want of a teacher.
We have erected this summer on Indian Island, Merigonish, a glebe house for the use of the priest while attending to the spiritual wants of the Indians, and also a very pretty and substantial wooden church with a stone foundation. The interior of the church is not yet finished, but the building must be used until more money shall have been collected. The buildings as they stand at present cost, apart from, labour given gratuitously by the Indians, about $1,800. A thousand dollars of this amount are the collective contributions among the Indians for some years past. The balance is the result of a successful pic-nic held this summer on Indian Island.
I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your obedient servant
RODERICK McDONALD,
Indian Agent, District No. 8.
Note
Annual Report of the Department of Indian Affairs for the Year Ended 31st December 1890 (Ottawa: Dominion of Canada, 1891), 186.