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 Shubenacadie Mi’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, ‘hunting shooting 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.