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James Bowdoin the President of the Massachusetts Council, stated that, "the United States now forms a long and Strong Chain, and it is made longer and stronger by our Brethren, the Mi'kmaq Tribes, joining with us; and may Almighty God never suffer this Chain be broken."

For the mutual defense of the United States, the Mi'kmaq and their allies formed the American Battalion. In the fall of 1776, under American Colonel Jonathan Eddy, they attacked the British Fort Cumberland in Nova Scotia. Early in 1777, they prepared for the American invasion of Nova Scotia. In the meantime, they launched raids on British shipping and trading posts, and aided the American forces when called upon by the United States. They effectively secured the Maine border against British attack.

The Continental Congress of 1777 commissioned John Allan as Superintendent of Indian Affairs for the Eastern Department and gave him instructions respecting trade with the Mi'kmaq. In the Summer of 1778, the Mi'kmaq affirmed their alliance with the United States and France. France, an old ally of the Mi'kmaq, entered the Revolution as the first European ally of the United States. On July 14th, 1778, Colonel Allan received a message from the Grand Council which consisted of three strings of Wampum, one from the Civil Chiefs, one from the Warriors to the Warriors of the United States, and one for the King of France, welcoming him into their country, to be an ally of the United States.

In July of 1780,the Mi'kmaq and their allies sent a large Wampum belt to the Congress in Philadelphia, and to the King of France, "as a pledge of their friendship and fidelity". Despite military and political pressure from the British and the Western Tribes, who warned them to withdraw from supporting the United States, "or be treated like an enemy", the Mi'kmaq refused to dissociate themselves from the United States. The Wampum belt was presented to the Provincial Congress and to the French Consulate in Massachusetts by Allan's representative. Massachusetts forwarded the belt to the Continental Congress.

After the Revolution,the Constitution of the United States gave Congress the exclusive authority to implement pre-1789 Treaties made under the authority of the United States. Thus the 1776 Treaty was transferred to the Federal Government. In addition, Congress was given authority to regulate commerce with foreign nations and Indian tribes.

The United States and Great Britain agreed that the Mi'kmaq had the free right to cross the international boundary between British North America(now Canada)and the United States with out hinderance in the Jay Treaty of November 19, 1794 and the Treaty of Ghent of December 24, 1814.

The Grand Council and the Mi'kmaq continue to honor their Treaty with the United States by serving in the armed forces of the United States without regard to citizenship and continue to regard themselves as rightfully free to travel and work in the United States.

In 1976, Governor Dukakis declared in an Executive Order that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has long maintained special relations with the Native Americans of the region, has never ceased to recognize the Mi'kmaq Treaty or the Grand Council and continues to preserve their special treaty status.

In 1981, the State Legislature also affirmed the special status of the Mi'kmaq by including their children among those American Indians eligible for scholarships, tuition and fee waivers in public state institutions of higher learning.

- Taken from an address by Mi'kmaq Grand Captain Alex Denny
to the Massachusetts House of Representatives, June 24,1987;
d uring the historic renewal ceremony of the Watertown Treaty of 1776.

Scenes from the 6th Annual Treaty Day Celebrations (2001) Watertown, Massachusetts

 

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