1866- Letter from James Lang discussing Mi'kmaq land in Pictou:
Name
James Lang
Name
Type of Resource
text
Genre
Letter
Abstract
An interesting letter from a man named James Lang, from River John. The letter discussed various subjects, including the abolishment of slavery in Great Britain, but mostly focused on the need for Mi'kmaq reserves in Pictou County. The letter pointed to several acts passed in Parliament and in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly that legislated various land rights to the Mi'kmaq in Nova Scotia. It is unclear whether James Lang is a Mi'kmaq man or a settler, but the prose of the letter suggests he may have been Mi'kmaq.
Form
text
Note
My Lord,
God stirred up the Spirit of Cyrus who gave the Jews their own land with gold, silver, cattle amd goods to settle it that was god’s plan, tho [sic] the wicked opposed it. Ezra, Chapter 6 verse.
Great Britain gave [pounds] 20,000,000 to free the Negros 3 days in the week for three years, when the money was paid Daniel O. Bond carried a resolution in Parliament that they be set free, government obeyed and sent an order to free them, it gave him an immortal name in History.
Great Britain gave the Indians of this Province thousands of acres of land to settle on in 1859, the [humble?] took it all from them, and the Act distinctly states when they pay there [late?], it is to be left to the government weather [sic] they get it or not.
In 1860 Joseph Howe carried a resolution that said an Indian was to receive a deed of a hundred acres to be sold only to Indians only. Forever the government has failed to give deeds according to that resolution. In 1862 I offered the dividends and interest of $100 in Pictou [] [] yearly to Rev. McDonald, Priest, if it was in his power to get a lot of land (as I had failed with the M.P. who had for the Law of 1859 who excluded them except at the option of the Government) he got 50 acres immediately. Two Indians settled on it. He applyed [sic] to the Committee of the Assembly of 1865 for Deeds butt [sic] failed. [] the same committee reported that two Indians had settled in Cape Breton but did not say they were to get Deeds nor any of the Infians of these over $1000 did they recommend for there [sic] encouragement, butt [sic] recommended to sell a part of the lands.
$5000 is granted to help the foreigners who immigrate to help him to settle, butt [sic] not a cent is for Natives.
Yours Truly,
James Lang
River John
27 January 1866
Note
Public Archives of Nova Scotia, Indian Commissioner Series, Vol. 431, file 144.