Empire, the Maritime Colonies, and the Supplanting of Mi’kma’ki/Wulstukwik, 1780-1820
Abstract
While accepting that the supplanting of Mi’kma’ki and Wulstukwik by the Maritime colonies entered a crucial phase during the waning years of the “long” 18th century, this article argues that the process was characterized by a complex and distinctive pattern. That dispossession was widespread is beyond doubt, even though the evidence also suggests significant spatial variations in the scale and implications of environmental change. Yet a continuing Native ability to represent complaints and demands based on longstanding treaty obligations, and to extract conciliatory responses from reluctant imperial officials, also persisted during this period. Résumé Tout en reconnaissant que le remplacement de Mi’kma’ki et de Wulstukwik par les colonies des Maritimes entra dans une phase cruciale dans les dernières années du « long » 18e siècle, cet article soutient que ce processus présentait des caractéristiques complexes et distinctives. Il ne fait aucun doute que la dépossession était une pratique répandue, même si les preuves suggèrent aussi que l’ampleur et les répercussions du changement d’environnement variaient considérablement selon le lieu. Néanmoins, on assista aussi durant cette période à la persistance d’une capacité soutenue des Amérindiens de faire valoir leurs doléances et leurs demandes en invoquant des obligations de longue date issues de traités, et d’obtenir des réponses conciliantes de la part de fonctionnaires impériaux récalcitrants.
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