Annual Report from Indian Agent Rev. J.D. McLeod, reporting on various aspects of life at Fisher's Grant Reserve for the year 1916.
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REPORT OF REV. T.D. MACLEOD, INDIAN AGENT FOR PICTOU COUNTY, NOVA SCOTIA. Tribe. - All the Indians in this agency are Micmacs.
Occupations. - These Indians are engaged in farming, fishing, making baskets and pick-handles, and hiring as labourers. Not a few work at the steel works at New Glasgow. Many during the past summer found employment loading steamers at Pictou and Pictou Landing with lumber, and products of Nova Scotia Steel Company. The smelt- fishing was not a success during the past season. The Indians have no boats or nets for sea fishing. This, it is thought, would be a profitable source of employment if they had the means.
The women help in making baskets and moccasins.
Farm Implements. - The Indians take good care of their farm implements such as ploughs, harrows, wagons, and cultivators.
Buildings. - All the houses with few exceptions are frame buildings of small size and fairly comfortable.
Health and Sanitation. - The health of the Indians has been good. Precautions are taken in avoiding infection in cases of tuberculosis.
Characteristics and Progress. - The Indians are industrious with few exceptions. The younger men show a more progressive spirit and are anxious to secure more permanent and lucrative occupations at nearby industries to build better dwellings and to live up to a higher standard of life.
Temperance, and Morality. - The large majority of the Indians are temperate. There are but few exceptions. Their morals with rare exceptions are very good.
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Annual Report of the Department of Indian Affairs for the Year Ended March 31 1916 (Ottawa: J. De L. Tache, Printer to the King's Most Excellent Majesty, 1916), 35.