An Account of the Customs and Manners of the Micmakis and Maricheets Savage Nations, Now Dependent on the Government of Cape-Breton

"An Account of the Customs and Manners of the Micmakis and Maricheets Savage Nations" is a historical account, likely written in the mid-18th century. This work presents an ethnographic study of the Micmakis and Maricheets tribes, detailing their customs, societal structures, and interactions with French missionaries and their English counterparts. The author, a French abbot who spent years among these tribes, provides insights into both the spiritual and mundane aspects of their lives. The beginning of the work sets the stage by explaining the context in which it was written, including the historical tensions between the Native tribes and the English settlers. The abbot expresses a strong sense of duty in conveying the true nature and culture of the Micmakis and Maricheets, highlighting their complexities, including their approaches to warfare and social gatherings. He aims to counteract prevailing narratives that depict the tribes merely as savage warriors, instead allowing their customs, religious practices, and the influences of European contact to unfold, thus offering a nuanced view of their lives and the impacts of colonialism. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Abbé Pierre Antoine Simon Maillard was a French-born priest. He is noted for his contributions to the creation of a writing system for the Mi'kmaq people of Île Royale, New France. He is also credited with helping negotiate a peace treaty between the British and the Mi'kmaq that resulted in the Burying the Hatchet ceremony. He was the first Catholic priest in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and is buried in the St. Peter's Cemetery, in Downtown Halifax.