Genealogy Resource Links
Finding Aids
Nova Scotia Archives: RG1 vol. 430-432 Indian Affairs: These papers contain information about the administration of Indian Affairs during the pre-Confederation Period. Included are some of the relief lists which, in some cases, list relief recipients by name. A
Finding Aid prepared by the Treaty Centre is available.-MG15 vols. 3,4,4a,5,6,7,17,18,10 – Ethnic Identities – Mi’kmaq. These papers also contain relief lists, and some of the invoices submitted by doctors across the province for treatment of Mi’kmaq patients. A Finding Aid is available.-MG1 – various notes in family history -Harry Piers Papers-Helen Creighton Papers-Clara Dennis Collection-Upton, LFS, “Biographical References to Nova Scotia Indians” 1977 MG15, vol. 18. #16 (film 15,108) gives names. -Miller, Virginia – “A Survey of Ethnohistorical Materials in Nova Scotia”, 1974 MG15, vol. 18, #1, (film 15,108) references to both primary and secondary materials -Abbi Sigogne Papers – NAC MG23 C10 (film 11,002) -Paul, Stephen – Pictou Family Bible (MG1) (film 14,259)-Federal census data-Various community histories
National Archives of Canada – available via interlibrary loan-RG10 Indian Affairs files In 1867, administration of Indian Affairs was transferred from the provincial governments to the new federal government. The number of files in the Indian Affairs collection is enormous, however many of the files containing personal information are not available on microfilm. There is an inventory of the RG10 Indian Affairs available from the NAC and also through the Treaty Centre.
The Treaty and Aboriginal Rights Research Centre of Nova Scotia, P.O. Box 341 Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia, B0N 2H0, Tel: (902) 758-1953, fax: (902) 758-1759 has a large collection of publications and microfilm relating to the Mi’kmaq Nation and while they can not reply to genealogical inquiries, they have a bookstore and are a member of the Council of Nova Scotia Archives and open to the public during working hours. It is requested that you call in advance to make arrangements for access to the collection.
Beaton Institute-Ethnic Resources Inventory
Acadia University-Silas T. Rand Collection
Whitehead, Ruth Holmes. “The Old Man Told Us, Excerpts from Micmac History 1500-1900, Halifax: Nimbus 1991. An excellent beginning source. The index at the back lists many Mi’kmaq names and there are accounts of families, including copies of some pre- Confederation census material that is not otherwise available locally.
Allen, Gillian. “Research Bibliography Mi’kmaq a Catalogue of Secondary Sources Available for Researchers“, Indian Brook, 1997. A 1998 version of this bibliography will be available shortly at the Archives. The Bibliography includes locations and call numbers for material available in Nova Scotia.
Cape Breton’s Magazine – various There are several articles through the “Magazine” which contain personal accounts and oral histories which may assist in linking families and generations. Gloade, Harold. “As I remember: Hantsport area in the 1930’s” Hantsport: Hantsport & Area Hist. Society, 1989.”From my vantage point”, Ottawa: Borealis Press, 1991.
Upton, LFS “Micmac and colonists: Indian-White relations in the Maritimes 1713-1867, Vancouver: UBC, 1979. An excellent history of early Mi’kmaq-colonial relations throughout the Maritimes. Names are mentioned.
*Indian Reserve Land in Nova Scotia
Reserve Name & County/Number/Band
- Wagamatcook – also known as Middle River, Nyanza,
- Baddeck- Victoria /1/Wagamatcook
- Waycobah – also known as Whycocmagh-Inverness/2/Waycobah
- Eskasoni – Cape Breton/3 & 3A/Eskasoni
- Malagawatch – Inverness/4/Eskasoni,
Membertou,
Chapel Island, - Waycobah, Wagamatcook
- Chapel Island – also known as Salmon River, Barra Head, St. Peters-Richmond/5/Chapel Island Bear River – Annapolis & Digby/6, 6A,6B/Bear River (no 8)
- Kejimkujik – also know and Fairy Lakes-Queens/7 & 9/Acadia
- Ponhook – Queens/10/Acadia
- Wildcat – Queens/12/Acadia
- Shubenacadie – also know as Grand Lake – Halifax/13/Shubenacadie
- Indianbrook – Hants/14/Shubenacadie
- Sambro – Halifax/15/undetermined*
- Ingram River – Halifax/16/undetermined*
- Beaver Lake – Halifax/17/Millbrook
- Ship Harbour – Halifax/18/undetermined*
- Pennal – Halifax/19/Shubenacadie
- New Germany – Lunenburg/19A/Shubenacadie+
- New Ross – Lunenburg/20/shubenacadie
- Gold River – Lunenburg/21/Acadia
- Franklin Manor – Cumberland & Pictou/22/Pictou Landing & Afton
- Pomquet – Afton – Antigonish/23/Afton
- Fishers Grant – Pictou/24&24G/Pictou Landing
- Margaree – Inverness/25/Wagmatcook (no 26)
- Milbrook – Colchester/27/Milbrook
- Truro – Colchester/27A,B & C/Milbrook
- Kings’s Road (Sydney) – Cape Breton/28/Membertou^
- Lingan Road – Cape Breton/28A/ Membertou
- Membertou – Cape Breton/28B/Membertou
- Caribou Marsh – Cape Breton/29/Membertou
- Cole Harbour – Halifax/30/Millbrook
- Merigomish Harbour – Pictou/31/Pictou Landing
- Cambridge-Kings/32/Annapolis Valley
- Yarmouth – Yarmouth/33/Acadia
- St. Croix – Hants/34/Annapolis Valley
- Horton – Kings/35/Horton
- Sheet Harbour – Halifax/36/Millbrook
- Boat Harbour – Pictou/37/Pictou Landing
- Summerside/38/Afton
* These reserves were disposed of by the Canadian government without proper surrenders in the early 20th century. + This reserve was disposed of in 1933 ^This reserve is the subject of a specific claim by the Membertou Community.
Twohig, Peter. “Health & Health Care Delivery System: The Micmac in Nova Scotia” MA Thesis, Halifax SMU 1991. Mr. Twohig’s thesis mentions names and notes types of health care delivered.