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of New Brunswick" Apr.4/1842
These circumstances are mentioned to show the long continued possession of
the Indians at this place—a possession—maintained by the blood of their
Fathers, and of which it is hoped the Tribe will never be deprived.
From this place I next proceeded to the River Tobique, where the Indians have a
reserve of 16,000 acres, extending eight miles in front on the River Saint John,
and running back the same breadth four miles.
On the right bank of the Tobique, at its confluence with the Saint John, stands
an Indian Village consisting of thirty families, comprising 123 souls.
There are here eleven framed houses and twelve large standing wigwams, They
have some land under crop (chiefly potatoes) but much cleared land which
appears to have been formerly cultivated has been neglected; bushes have
grown up upon it, and it is fast relapsing into a state of wilderness.
Fronting on the Saint John, and the left bank of the Tobique, there is a very fine
piece of alluvial land called the Tobique Flat, on which a considerable quantity of
hay is cut annually. The grass this year has been sold for thirty pounds to a
person in the neighbourhood, who agreed to pay in cash, but subsequently told
the Indians that money was not to be had and they must take provisions. This it
appeared was a customary mode of dealing with the Indians; first to bargain with
them for cash at a very inadequate price, and then taking advantage of their
necessities, to palm off inferior articles of provision at an exorbitant rate in
payment. I endeavoured to prevent it in this instance, by sending a written
notice to the purchaser, that he must pay in cash according to his agreement,
and also giving the Captain at Tobique an order in writing not to deliver an
portion of the grass or hay until he received payment in money, for which he
would hereafter account.
They have no Chapel here but are exceedingly anxious to get one up, for which
purpose they have collected nearly sufficient scantling, with about two thousand
feet of boards and twenty three thousand shingles. The Treasurer has Ten
pounds in hand collected by subscription for the Chapel. The Rev. Antoine
Gosselin comes to this place twice in each year for a short time from
Madawaska. He informed me subsequently that he would visit the Tobique much
oftener and remain monger it there were a place built for Public Worship.
There has never been a School here or the slightest attempt made to educate
the rising generation; they are growing up much as they might be supposed to
do if there were no civilized people in this Province.
In passing up the River, I found the front of the Indian Reserve, for about three
miles above the Tobique Rock, cleared and cultivated by squatters, who have
built houses and barns, and appear to make themselves quite at ease. They pay
no rent, acknowledge no title, and from long impunity have become very
insolent and overbearing. Besides occupying the land, they openly plunder the
forest in the vicinity o f the most valuable Timber, and dispose of it in the face of
the Indians, whom they will scarcely allow to set foot upon the land, and
invariably hunt off like wild beasts, if they attempt to look after or prevent the
trespasses which are constantly committed.
As soon as the purpose for which I came was known, they drew themselves up
in hostile array, and would not communicate. One of the Squatters, in answer to
an enquiry, told me that he had lived on the land twenty years; that he had been
several times sued, sometimes taken to Fredericton and sometimes to
Woodstock, but beyond that, nothing had ever come of the suits; and, he
supposed, could not. That he would never take a lease of the land, or pay rent,
and if driven off, he would burn the buildings and devastate the land.
He told me that he came on the land in May, 1840; this year he has put up a
house, and got in a crop. He has taken possession of a clay bank, for the
purpose of commencing the manufacture of brick, and also of a Mill Privilege,
intending to set up a Mill forthwith. I gave him a notice to desist and quit the
property, when he admitted that he came there without any authority, merely
because he saw many others do so with impunity, and he thought he also might
as well have some benefit form the Indian Land.
While ranging the front of the Reserve I discovered a quantity of Scantling,
(in all twenty one pieces,) cut and hauled to the bank of the Saint John, ready to
be taken away. This I seized, and directed the Indians to remove to the Village
for security. I then went on to seize some Birch Timber, and while absent, the
Indians proceeded to get away the Scantling. The trespasser who had cut it
came with a party of men and attempted the rescue. I returned immediately with
the party of Indians who accompanied me, when the other party withdrew, and
the Scantling was brought off and deposited at the Village.
Mr. ____ admitted to me had cut the Scantling without leave; that a Crown
Officer had seized it, but told him that he might take it away on settling with the
Indians, which he had not done. Much angry feeling was displayed by Mr. ____
and his party on this occasion, and in the mere wantonness they destroyed the
canoe of a poor Indian who landed at a store on the opposite side of the River to
purchase goods.
It was stated to me broadly by Mr. _____ that it had so long been the custom for
every person to cut as they pleased on Indian land, that they considered it right
and lawful to do so, and if any objection were made (that is, if detected in the
act, or before the removal of the Timber,) the payment of Stumpage made all
right.
I learned at the Tobique that a number of persons had cut Timber on the
Reserve during the past winter, and that Mr.____ had been sent up to seize it,
with instructions to give it up to the several parties on their satisfying the
Indians. Under this arrangement the Indians received the trifling sum of eight
pounds four shillings and six pence, chiefly paid in provisions at enormous
prices. Mr. ____ cut a quantity of Birch Timber, which was seized; he then
promised to pay the Indians at the rate of half a dollar for each tree, but
succeeded in getting it away before payment, and now reuses to pay, as do
others under like circumstances.
I found seven pieces of large Birch Timber just hauled out, which I seized, and I
desired him to let it remain there until further orders; he promised that it should
not be removed. On my return from Madawaska, I found that it had been carried
off.
From all these circumstances His Excellency will at once perceive the
impropriety of allowing Timber willfully cut on the Indian Reserve, to be given up
upon any terms. The only mode of stopping these constant trespasses is to
confiscate the Timber in all cases, and when it is found that this course is
adopted and rigidly adhered to, the wholesale plunder now going on, will be
brought to an end, and the morals of the neighbourhood greatly improved.
The Timber seized from Mr. ____ was placed by the Indians with the Scantling
intended for their Chapel, and they beg to be allowed to use it in that building."
Moses H Perley first report respecting the Indians of St. John
