Home   /   Sitemap   /   About   /   Partners   /   Mission Era Timeline   /   Research Corner   /

Home » In Their Own Voices » Other Voices » People »

Background Writings and Excerpts

Just a few Sentences about the Indian . . .
By Elizabeth Boyd McDougall

A few years ago, he owned all this big country-all its broad acres, all its big mountains, all its long rivers, all its wonderful wealth was his and his alone. 

            By the right of ages of occupancy,    

            By the right of heredity of possession,

            By the right of the lot given by Providence. 

This was his land and home and Territory. He was weak and few-we being many and strong-have taken this land from him. No doubt God has allowed us to do this in order that we should be under Him the means of Christianizing and civilizing and educating these Indian Peoples thus committed to us by the Providence of God. We are Stewards and Guardians for God in this matter. 

Let us never forget this or surely as the Sun shines our Stewardship will be taken from us. The Indian is not a burden. He has payed (sic) a thousand times over for all we can do for him. Many people, even professing Christians forget this. 

If we who call ourselves White People want to be really 'White,' let us do our duty to these Indian People around us. Example, kindness, help, this is the part of all Christians to our Indians. 

I am glad my husband had been an Indians' Missionary. I am glad that I spent 27 years altogether amongst the Indians-they might have killed us but they did not. They might have taken all we had but they never took anything from us-with Indians we left our doors unlocked. 

The Indian missionary pioneered the country, made peace, opened the way for settlement, prepared the way for government, and was the real foundation layer of the Empire.

I am proud of the part we as a family have had in this. My husband and those who preceded him and have all through the years been his associates and companions in this field have been highly honored of God. And today they are still doing a glorious work for the present and future of these People to whom we owe so much. 

I have known many worthy men and women Indians-kind, grateful, brave, real friends. I hope the Christian churches and our Governments will continue to bless them in every way that will result in this present and eternal salvation.

Citation Sources
Chantler, John and  Elizabeth Boyd McDougall. McDougall Reflections: The Future of the Indians of Canada,  McDougall Stoney Mission Society, 1996.

[« back]