Early references seem to support band’s existance
To The Expositor:
In response to your recent article on page 1 of the Wednesday, June 19, 2024, Expositor “Crown Argues Amikwa Nation Not Legitimate”, I would like to offer information supporting Laurentian University Professor Dr. William Newbeggings’ assertations that the Amikwas were a legitimate Native nation. I am enclosing information found in the “Handbook of Indians of Canada.” Page 21 details an explanation of these people and I believe verifies Dr. Newbigging’s assertations. I hope this is helpful. It was originally published in 1910. This monumental work was begun in 1873 and completed 37 years later, in 1910. It includes maps where Indian title has been quieted by treaties with Native inhabitants. Much Native history has been deliberately lost in my opinion.
Sincerely,
William H.R. Fisher (Dehbikageezis)
Gore Bay
“Amikwas (from amik,’beaver’). An Algonquian tribe found by the French on the N. shore of L. Huron, opposite Manitoulin Island, where they were identified in the Jesuit Relations at various dates up to 1672. Bacqueville de la Potherie (Hist. Am. Sept., 1753) says that they rendered themselves masters of all the other nations in those quarters until disease made great havoc among them and the Iroquois compelled the remainder of the tribe to betake themselves, some to the French settlements, others to l. Superior and to Green bay of lake Michigan. In 1740 a remnant had retired to Manitoulin id. Chauvignerie, writing in 1736, says of the Nipissing: “The armorial bearings of this nation are, the heron for the Achagué or Heron tribe, the beaver for the Amekoes (Amikwa), the birch for the Bark tribe.” The reference may possibly be to agents of the Nipissing and not to the Amikwa tribe, yet the evidently close relation between the latter and the Nipissing and not to the Amikwa tribe, yet the evidently close relation between the latter and the Nipissing justifies the belief that the writer alluded to the Amikwa as known to history. They claimed in 1673 to be allies of the Nipissing. (J.M. C.T.)”
