How Prince Edward Island Joined Canada

Prince Edward Island entered Canadian Confederation 150 years ago — but a century before that, the island’s Indigenous Mi’kmaw Chiefs signed Treaties of Peace and Friendship with representatives of the British King. What happened to those treaties when PEI joined Canada in 1873?

Interview by Kate Jaimet

Posted May 25, 2023

When King George II signed with PEI’s Mi’kmaw Chiefs more than 200 years ago, the British monarch promised the Mi’kmaw people the right to hunt and fish on the island forever. But what happened to those treaties when PEI joined Canada in 1873? Historian Christopher Moore and Mi’kmaw legal scholar Cheryl Simon discuss how British law, international treaties, and the deal PEI made with Canada at Confederation have affected everything from fishing rights to property ownership in Canada's smallest province.


More stories about Confederation

The Foundering Fathers

Did the Fathers of Confederation bungle the creation of Canada? Maybe they were smarter than you think.

Daughters of Confederation

As the Fathers of Confederation negotiated unity, their unmarried daughters and sisters hoped for alliances of a different kind.  

The Mothers of Confederation

Life was a story of unending toil for many women in pioneer Canada.

Explore the Legacies of Confederation

Watch now: in this video Canada's History gets a tour of the Manitoba Museum's Legacies of Confederation: A New Look at Manitoba History exhibition. 

Handle with Care - Legacies of Confederation

Watch now: in this video Canada's History goes behind-the-scenes at the Manitoba Museum to view and to touch artifacts and specimens.

George-Étienne Cartier: Quebec's Lion of Confederation

Without the support and persuasiveness of George-Étienne Cartier, Quebec might not have united with the rest of the Dominion.

Miss Confederation

Book Review:  In this book McDonald and Coles take readers along on the “Confederation Ride” — a fascinating and revealing tour of eastern Canada in 1864.

Cheering Confederation

The ways Canadians toast their country have changes with the times.

Confederation Derailed

You can’t call Canada a nation anymore. How did this happen?

Join us in working toward Reconciliation

Canada's History magazine was established in 1920 as The Beaver, a Journal of Progress. In its early years, the magazine focused on Canada's fur trade and life in Northern Canada. While Indigenous people were pictured in the magazine, they were rarely identified, and their stories were told by settlers. Today, Canada's History is raising the voices of First Nations, Métis and Inuit by sharing the stories of their past in their own words.

 

If you believe that stories of Canada’s Indigenous history should be more widely known, help us do more. Your donation of $10, $25, or whatever amount you like, will allow Canada’s History to share Indigenous stories with readers of all ages, ensuring the widest possible audience can access these stories for free.

 

Any amount helps, or better yet, start a monthly donation today. Your support makes all the difference. Thank you!

Christopher Moore wrote "Confederation or Bust" in the June-July 2023 issue of Canada’s History magazine. One hundred and fifty years ago, the people of Prince Edward Island kicked out the British landlords, embraced the railway, and joined Canada.

Related to Politics & Law