We Were Not the Savages facts for kids
We Were Not the Savages is an important history book written by Daniel N. Paul. It tells the story of the Mi'kmaq people during the time when Europeans first came to the Americas and started to settle there. The book has been published three times, with each new version adding more information.
The latest edition, from 2006, has fourteen chapters. It talks about many things, from how the Mi'kmaq lived and shared their resources before Europeans arrived, to the challenges they faced later. The book explains that the Mi'kmaq people had seven independent areas, or Districts. These covered parts of Canada like Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick (north of the Saint John River), and the Gaspe region of Quebec. They also included the northern part of Maine in the USA.
Contents
Understanding Mi'kmaq History
This book helps us learn about the Mi'kmaq people. It shares their view of history, especially during the time of European settlement.
Life Before European Contact
Daniel N. Paul writes that before Europeans arrived, the Mi'kmaq people had a very good way of life. They likely had one of the highest standards of living in the world. There was no poverty or hunger in their communities. Everyone worked together, and the well-being of the whole community was very important. They valued sharing and living in harmony with nature.
Challenges During Colonization
The middle parts of the book describe the wars that happened between European nations and the Mi'kmaq people during colonization. It also talks about the important treaties, which are agreements, made in the 1700s. These treaties tried to set rules for how different groups would live together.
Impact on Mi'kmaq Communities
In the final chapters, the book explains how European colonization changed the Mi'kmaq way of life. It describes how their communities and the land they lived on became much smaller and poorer in less than 200 years. This part of the book shows the lasting effects of colonization on the Mi'kmaq people.
About the Book's Editions
The book We Were Not the Savages has been updated several times. Each new edition includes more details and revised information.
- The first edition came out in 1993. It was called A Micmac Perspective on the Collision of Aboriginal and European Civilizations.
- A new version was published in 2000.
- The most recent and expanded edition was released in 2006. Its subtitle is Collision Between European and Native American Civilizations.
