The Micmacs did not have a method of writing. They preserved their history and

wisdom in songs and stories. Gifted story tellers were always near at hand. Little is known of their religion except that it centred around the sun, the provider oflight and warmth.

The coming ofthe “white man” changed forever the ancient pattern ofMicmac life. By 1758 there were almost 5,000 Acadians here. The Micmacs were generous and kind with these new strangers, acted as their guides and taught them many things.

The French from Europe also got along well with the Micmac people. Beaver pelts, bear hides and exquisite handicrafts were exchanged for guns, copper utensils, knives, axes, cloth, brandy, tobacco, flour and blankets. These trading partners also became military allies against the British and through the French missionaries in the late 16005 many Micmacs became Roman Catholic.

After the Conquest of 1 758 the British government was not as friendly toward the Micmacs as the French and Acadians had been. Many Micmacs were now Roman Catholic and had fought against the British. In addition, all the Island land was given away to wealthy people living in Great Britain.

As the European settlers increased, more forests were cleared and most of the wild animals were killed and the Micmacs were no longer able to move their camps from place to place. Gradually they began to locate around the curves of Malpeque Bay, but it was only in 1870 that a British charitable organization finally bought Lennox Island for the Micmacs.

Be’nédiction ales bateaux d Mont-Carmel en 1926.

In the mid 18005 the PEI Micmac population was estimated at 200 to 500. At the present time there are two Mi’Kmaq bands on PEI: Lennox Island, with a registered population of 701 and Abegweit, with a registered population of292.

The French and Acadians

Although Jacques Cartier visited St. John’s Island (later P.E.|.) in 1534 and claimed it for the King of France, nothing was done by way of settlement for nearly two hundred years. The Island’s name would probably have come from Champlain as early as 1604.

An attempt by France in 1720 to colonize the Island brought a small group to the site of Port laJoie (near Rocky Point). In this group were two Sulpician priests, the first to set foot on the Island. Soon a modest church was built and dedicated to St. John the Evangelist.

After two years here these priests left the Island and for the next thirty years Franciscan priests, one by one, looked after the spiritual needs ofthe small population.

In general the settlers from France left the Island by the mid 17205 and the French— speaking colonists after that were the Acadians from present-day Nova Scotia, from an area known as Acadia.

WHO CAME? O 9