Transcribing an Indian Agent’s Letter-book: Learning About Akwesasne, ca. 1893-98 (2021)

The original Letter-books of George Long, Indian Agent at the St. Regis Reserve (modern-day Akwesasne) located in Quebec and Ontario on the border with New York State, have been digitized by Archives Canada. Because they were written longhand, they are difficult for modern readers to use. By transcribing a volume covering 1893-1898, students learned some important aspects of what it takes to be a historian, in particular how to do local history. Looking in detail at life on the St. Regis Reserve a hundred years ago also helps us understand some problems and community concerns that persist into modern times. Individual team members chose to explore issues such as border crossing, liquor control, and health care. As a group, the students produced an annotated digitized archive that will be posted online, where it will serve as a resource for historians, genealogists, and community members.