| Note |
October 31st, 1921
To His Majesty King George promising this to the Crown of the land we love.
Dear Crown,
We Micmacks of Nova Scotia do ask for a hearing on this treaty which we forward a copy of to you, as you will read as follows:
As we ask for the protection of our children as was in the days that are gone by, as we were always used to the fish of the rivers and the game of the forest by the treaty made in the reign of George III and our Chief in the city of Halifax Province of Nova Scotia, our Chief met at the Governor in Council and Buried the hatchet and became brothers together. They have taken the treaty away from us altogether. What we want to know is if our treaty stands good today as it reads as the sun and moon never see an end. Oh Crown Protect us! They have taken our rights away and we have not got what we ought to have. We are not like the white men, go to the town and get work. White man don’t look at the Indians and what we woild like to have is the protection of our treaty of 169 years ago. We protected the forests until 59 years ago and they have gradually taken all away from us and have put the same law on the Indians that they have on the whiteman and strangers that come into this country. England never made a treaty to be broken don’t let this one be broken, the one you gave us when we gave you our heart and hand, and we would like to have that which we think is ours, the revenue which came out of this, as it would help us in this hard times [pg.2] and also to have the right to get meat of the forest for our families at any time or fish in the streams, creeks, or coves and the fowl of the air which we were always used to before taken away.
We are also sending a copy of the laws we have to abide by and a copy of our treaty.
Signed your servants.
Signed.
William Paul Grand chief Shubenacadie X
Peter L. Paul Captain X
Martin Sack Capion
Louis James Newell
Peter Glode
John Cope X
Joseph Toney X
Peter L. Paul
Jahn Bradley X
Alix Paul X
Pitter Paul X
Isick Sark X
James Glode X
Thomas Malhoney
Stephen Malhoney X
Peter Glade X
Joseph Paul X
Andrew Paul
Frank Thomas
N. Thomas McDonald
Noel McDonald
Ha Selma Luxeny
Richard Nevin
William Nevin X
William Paul X
Waiting a reply on this we remain your servant
Commutation
Address James Prosper, Micmack
Assistant Chief
272 Upper Water St. Halifax, N.S.
[pg.3]
At a council, September 15th, 1752.
Present as ye last.
The answer prepared for the Indian Chief was read to him, and being approved by him as satisfactory, it was ordered that the same should be fairly drawn on parchment, in French and English in order to be ratified and exchanged on the morrow.
(sgd) P.T. Hopson
At a Council holden at the Governor’s House at Halifax on September 16th 1752.
Present –
His Excellency the Governor
The Honble.
Cha. Lawrence,
Banj. Greene,
John Salusbury,
Wm. Steele,
Jno. Collier,
Geo. Fotheringham
His Excellency the ^late^ Governor, being also present.
The following answer to the proposal of the Indian Chief was interchangeably signed and sealed; after which he took his leave, and embarked on board the vessel that brought him, and sailed the same day.
The answer His Excellency Peregraine Thos. Hopson, Esq., L.S. Captain General and Governor in Chief in and His Majesty’s Province of Nova Scotia or Accadie [sic], Vice Admiral of the same, and Colonel of one of His Majesty’s Regiment of Foot, etc., for himself and his tribe, and to his offers and engagements to endeavor to bring the other Micmac Tribes to renew ye peace.
Friend,
It is with pleasure that We see thee here to commune with us touching the burying of the hatchet between the British children of his puissant Majesty King George and his children the Micmacks [sic] of this country. We do assure you that he has declared unto us, that you are his children, and that you have acknowledged him for your great [pg. 4]
Chief and Father. He has ordered us to treat you as dear Brethern [sic], and We did not commence any new dispute with you upon our arrival here – but what is passed shall be buried in Oblivion, and for the time to come we shall be pleased and charmed to live together as friends.
We will not suffer that you be hindred [sic] from Hunting, or Fishing in this country, as you have been used to, and if you shall think fit to settle your wives and children upon the River Shubenacadie no person shall hinder it, nor shall meddle with the lands where you are, and the Governor shall put up a truck house of merchandise there, where you may have everything you stand in need of at a reasonable price, and where you shall be given unto you the full value for the peltries, Feathers, or other things which you shall have to sell.
We approve of your engagement to go and inform you people of this our answer and then the other Tribes, with the promise of your endeavours to bring them ^to a renewal of ye peace. When you return here (as a mark of our goodwill) we will give you handsome presents of such Things whereof you most need; and each one of us will put our names to the Agreement that shall be made between us. And we hope to brighten the chain in our hearts and to confirm our Friendship every year; and for this purpose we shall expect to see here some of your Chiefs to receive annual presents whilst you behave yourselves as good, and faithful children to our Great King – and you shall be furnished with provisions for you and your families every year. We wish you a happy return to your friends and that the Sun and Moon shall never see and [sic end of our Friendship – and for a more particular mark of our Sincerity, we have given you a golden belt, a laced hat for your self and another for your Son.
Given under our Hand and Seal at the Council Chamber at Halifax, this 16th September 1752 in ye 26th year of His Majesty’s Reign.
(SGD) P.T. Hopson
Cha. Lawrence,
Benj. Greene,
John Salusbury,
Wm. Steele,
Jno. Collier,
Geo. Fotheringham
[Pg. 5]
I Major Jean Baptiste Cope do accept sincerely, and with a true heart, the conditions of this answer of His Excellency, the Governor, and His Majesty’s Council and for myself, and my people, and I engage to bring them here with me to sign and ratify the Treaty of Peace upon the above said conditions, in a month, or as soon as possible, and I promise to engage to do my utmost Endeavours to bring here the other Tribes of Micmacks to make peace.
Given under my hand and seal, in presence of the said Governor and council in the Council Chamber at Halifax, this Sixteenth day of September 1752, and the 26th year of Majesty’s Reign.
The Mark of
Jean Baptiste Major Cope
(SGD) P.T. Hopson |