The Devil and Mr. Duncan, a History of the Two Metlakatlas

by Peter Murray

The first full-length study of the career of the controversial missionary William Duncan. An unordained Anglican minister, he was sent to British Columbia by the Church Missionary Society of England in 1857 to work among the Tsimshian Indians at Fort Simpson. After five years he left to establish Metlakatla but, after disputes with various governmental officials, he later moved this community north to Annette Island, near Ketchikan. He was an outspoken advocate of Indian rights, particularly land ownership, when that was not a popular cause among the land-seeking white population.

Paperback

Published January 1, 1985

Reviews

[Janice Sheufelt · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very detailed book about the missionary founder of Metlakatla, Alaska. Definitely interesting; the politics, commercial exploitation and divisiveness is very depressing. I would have liked to learn more about the people of Metlakatla, but the book is based on the writings, documents and records of Duncan.