1801 - Ten designated Indian reserves created in Nova Scotia

The first designated Indian reserves in Nova Scotia were created in 1801. Ten tracts of land were allotted for the purpose, with the creation of more reserves to follow in subsequent years. When Joseph Howe was named Commissioner for Indian Affairs and conducted a review of the reserves 20 years later, he acknowledged that they had been created on poor-quality lands that were significantly vulnerable to intrusion.

Nova Scotia Archives. Accessed September 22, 2026. https://archives.novascotia.ca/mikmaq/archival/