1783 - Government of Nova Scotia grants first ‘licenses of occupation’ to Mi’kmaq bands

As Loyalist refugees arrived in Nova Scotia and British settlement increased, the Mi’kmaq population soon became outnumbered. In 1783, the Nova Scotian government began to grant ‘licenses of occupation’ to Mi’kmaq bands for specific areas of land. These licenses served to recognize and confirm existing Indigenous settlements, rather than granting new land. However, they have come to be understood as an early precursor to the creation of reserves.

“Mikmaw Resource Guide.” Accessed September 22, 2026. https://www.mikmaweydebert.ca