Canadian History Commons^™

“We Are One Nation”: The Legacy Of The Coldwater-Narrows Reserve (1830-1836), Heather N. Smith

The Great Lakes Journal of Undergraduate History

Simcoe County, Ontario has one of the longest histories of contact between settlers and Indigenous peoples within Canada. Yet, this area remains understudied by historians, with much of the literature glorifying Canada’s first settlers, while emphasizing the “uncivilized” and “savage” nature of Indigenous peoples. This article tells the remarkable story of the Coldwater-Narrows Reserve (1830-1836) in order to reveal Indigenous life, culture, and presence in the region, while countering problematic perceptions of Indigenous peoples and addressing fundamental gaps in historiography. A variety of primary sources are explored, including archival maps, correspondence, travelogues, journals, and illustrations. This story demonstrates how the …