A Reluctant Engagement: Alliances and Social Networks in Early-18th-Century Kespukwitk and Port Royal

Early-18th-century Kespukwitk and Port Royal were connected by complex social networks characterized by reluctant alliances, shaped by political, economic, and cultural dynamics. This study reveals that while interactions between these communities were frequent, they were often marked by tension, reflecting broader colonial pressures and competing interests. The research employs a mixed-methods approach, analyzing archival records, oral histories, and archaeological data to reconstruct social relationships and power structures. Findings highlight the fluidity of alliances in this period, challenging traditional narratives of cooperation or conflict between Indigenous Mi'kmaq communities and European settlers.

Peace, T. (2020). A Reluctant Engagement: Alliances and Social Networks in Early-18th-Century Kespukwitk and Port Royal. Acadiensis: Journal of the History of the Atlantic Region / Revue d’Histoire de La Region Atlantique, 49(1), 5–38. https://doi.org/10.1353/aca.2020.0000