Micmac by Choice: Elsie Sark--An Island Legend

by M. Olga McKenna

Elsie Sark, an enigma and a legend, came to the Lennox Island Reserve, Prince Edward Island, in 1918 as the English bride of Mi'kmaq war hero John J. Sark.
Greeted on arrival by her father-in-law Chief John T. Sark and an assembly of Mi'kmaq residents, she found herself in the midst of a community in conflict. Without relinquishing her Victorian manner she settled on the Reserve, raising a family. Her life story sheds new light on Native-white relations on Prince Edward Island, but more than that, it bears witness to one woman's dedication to her community and family.
"Micmac by Choice" is the inspiring account of a remarkable woman and of the remarkable community she chose as her home.

Genres: Canada, Nonfiction

194 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1990

Reviews

[Peter B · Rating 4 out of 5]

The non-fiction account of the life of Elsie Stark. At the MicMac display at the Interpretive Centre at Grenwich PEI National Park is a picture of a woman who stands out not only because of her beauty but also because of her “knowing”expression. Later, at Cape Breton this same picture appeared on the cover of this book, which tells how an
English war bride came to live on the Lennox Island Reserve with her husband John Stark and the subsequent lifetime in which she helped, alienated, built, shaped and reshaped the culture she found. Seen by many non-Indians as noble, courageous and dedicated, she is apparently seen by many MicMac as just the opposite. There are parallels here to the “Indian” work of Emily Carr. While Carr was attempting to preserve the Indian culture for posterity, Sark was attempting to change the reserve to better prepare for the future. While her own children were eminently successful, it is not clear that the people are any better off for all of her work.
The book is a biography, but does also attempt to discuss the impact of the Department of Indian Affairs and the interference of white society on the MicMac.
The book is interesting and well-written but tends to overplay the comments of white neighbours.

[Laurent Desbois]

This book documents the métis after the deportation. Including DNA results!

VOIR…
Évidences de communautés métisses autour de la baie des Chaleurs
De Victorin n mallet, Ph.D. , Université de Moncton, NB
février 2018, Éditeur : GRANDE MAREE EDITIONS DE LA

https://www.facebook.com/groups/68212...

[Hannah Grant · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reads well as a biography. Some of the voice tense comes across to much as a firsthand diary which may leave you flipping back a page. As to its content this text is NOT WRITTEN AS A EXAMPLE OF INDIGENOUS EXPERIENCE. It is about a woman who remained true to her own heritage occasionally disrespecting those she lived with. I recommend carefully reading the authors forward before purchase to examine the controversy of Elise Stark as a sympathetic hero to the Mikmaq from the view of white privilege yet as a obstinate villain to those of native origin.