1849- The Memorial of Peter Toney, Chief of Merigomish- Petition to Nova Scotia Government:
Name
Peter Toney (Chief)
Name
House of Assembly of Nova Scotia
Name
Type of Resource
text
Genre
Petition
Abstract
Petition from Peter Toney, Chief of Mi'kmaq at Merigomish. Toney stated that he represented over two hundred Mi'kmaq, and he pushed for land and relief to be granted to them. Toney stated that they had been pushed out of their land and hunting grounds by settlers, and that it was the government's responsibility to procure them with land and articles for subsistence.
Form
text
Note
“To the Honorable House of Assembly, when convened.
The Memorial of Peter Toney, Chief, on behalf of himself and the Indians residing at Merigomish, humbly shewith,
That there are at present residing at Merigomish thirty five families comprising of upwards of two hundred men, women, and children.
That for sometime past, these Indians have been in a destitute state, for the want of sufficient food and clothing. That starvation is now common among them and your Memorialist has left his family to proceed to Halifax for their relief, having been correctly solicited to do so by his famishing brethren.
That Memorialist feel that he need not remind your honorable House that his people have been driven from their hunting grounds and natural places of subsistence and that they can very scarcely find an abode in the Province, furnishing even fuel necessary for their comfort of life.
That in consequence they are driven to appeal to those who have now in possession the lands once the sole property of the Indian and your memorialist hopes that this appeal, which he now makes to your honorable House, for immediate relief, will not be made in vain. And your memorialist as in duty bound, will ever pray, Halifax January 27 1849, Peter Toney, Chief”
Note
Nova Scotia House of Assembly — Assembly petitions series Nova Scotia Archives RG 5 Series P, Vol. 45, No. 144