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Maliseet/ Mi’kmaw Treaty Understandings

Maliseet/ Mi’kmaw Treaty Understandings. William Wicken Dept of History York University, Toronto. The Peace and Friendship Treaties. British made a series of treaties with Mi’kmaq and Maliseet of this region. Five separate treaties signed.

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Maliseet/ Mi’kmaw Treaty Understandings

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  1. Maliseet/Mi’kmaw Treaty Understandings William Wicken Dept of History York University, Toronto

  2. The Peace and Friendship Treaties • British made a series of treaties with Mi’kmaq and Maliseet of this region. Five separate treaties signed. • Each ended a period of conflict between the British and the Maliseet and Mi’kmaq.

  3. Why did the British consider this region strategically important?

  4. Great Britain and the Limits of Empire • We assume that Great Britain was omnipotent in the 18 century but it will only become so later. The limits of its power is demonstrated by the success of a ragtag army that George Washington heads. • Great Britain’s army is more like a ‘thin red line’ that creates various alliances with heterogeneous groups of people to maintain a hold over a far-flung empire, of which Nova Scotia is only a small part.

  5. Quebec 1759 • About 15,000 British soldiers and marines at Quebec, June to Sept. • Defeat a French/Aboriginal force of more than 4,000 people. • Maliseet first overtures for peace are in November 1759 after they learn of French defeat.

  6. What Treaties? • 1725/6 also called the Mascarene Treaty and sometimes Dummer’s Treaty. Made with Maliseet and Mi’kmaq. • 1749: made only with Maliseet and one community of Mi’kmaq. • 1752: made only with ShubenacadieMi’kmaq (NS) • 1760/61: made with Maliseet and Mi’kmaq • 1778/9: Maliseet and Mi’kmaq of NB

  7. What is the relationship among these five treaties? • Two ways of thinking about this: • 1) each treaty should be interpreted on its own terms. • 2) each treaty should be interpreted in relation to the treaty that precedes it. • Court has tended to accept # 1.

  8. What do the Treaties say? • Makes Mi’kmaq/Maliseet ‘subjects of the Crown.’ • However, they are not ‘subjects’ in the same way as other people of Nova Scotia. Why not? • Sets out a series of legal restraints on Mi’kmaq/Maliseet in their interactions with European peoples.

  9. Do the Mi’kmaq/Maliseet get anything in return? • 1725/6 Treaty: the British promise that they will not molest the Mi’kmaq/Maliseet in their Persons, ‘huntingshooting and planting on their planting grounds.’ • Where are these grounds? • Promises are only made in what are called the ‘reciprocal promises;’ are not explicitly repeated in later treaties.

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