S octomah , Dona l d . 2003. Hm·d Time s at Passamaquoddy 1921
- 1950 : Triba l Life and Time s in Maine and New Bnm s wick. Pas s amaquoddy Tribe
- Indian Town s hip . p. 127 Hard Times at Passamaquoddy 1921 1950 Tribal Life and Times in Maine and New Brunswick By Donald Soctomah With Assistance from: Many People Who Love The History Of The Passamaquoddy People EPA 8EC'JON**~** t lf\f-: "RY JH<. f tDERf:L ._ 1. BO**:~** fON MA O. · )3<:? 11 All Proceeds will be used in the funding for a Passamaquoddy Cultural Heritage and Resource Center. ,: :.'!' .•



### May **:**

## 18' ; 1948 Passamaquoddy Fish1n
· g
.at Salmon Falls ·· ·:.· ,. The Passamaquoddy came there when there was a run offish and camped on the Canadian side of the river. There was high ground there and that's where the huts were placed. It was said that a cellar was dug recently in this area and native bones were found. The river was literally full ofsalmon, crowding side by side to get over the falls and onto the spawning grounds in the lakes above. The tribal fishennan used no hooks or lines. The fact is that the salmon would not take anything in their quest to go up stream. But here was a lively scene. Naked men and women and children lined the banks ofthe St. Croix River, and ifthere was a chance to reach in and grab a fish it was quickly thrown on the bank

. When the tide wentdown, the older ones wou d wade into the pools with their spears and clubs, then the real fishing began. Itwas a pleasant time for the Tribe. There would beplenty to eat for some time now. Some ofthe spears were made only ofsticks sharpened at the end, ifstone·tips were used they would break too easily. Some people fished from the birch bark canoes. Then came the eating. The Passamaquoddy were not a silent people. Ifa man happened to slip or step into a deep hole while fishing and went under, he got the merry "Ha Ha". Ifa large fish was speared it was admired by all there. Around the fires were merry times
as the women cooked the salmon; they had not cooking pans so they roasted the fish. The Passamaquoddy
were not fastidious feeders. Very little ofthe fish was thrown away, very little. The Indians around here had to be hunters and had to roam over a large area to get their food and when they got any they made the most ofit. But here on the banks ofthe St. Croix River was a merry time

. Food was plentiful for a while, and that was enough for the Tribe. They moved up to Grand Falls for a repeat ofthe fish action. Some
went down to Porter Mill Stream and picked up some Gaspereau for a change

. Theyhad to go from place to place wherever they though there was some thing to eat and tribal memories told them where to go. How big were the salmon? Perhaps ten to twelve pounds on the average. 

### (There were somepeople, mostly older men, who would fish regularly for the whole community and distribute the fish,probably by sale orbarter, but fish would always just begiven topeople who were poor, 1 mean "poor" in the sense of not having the same access to the resource. People were always looked after in that way. As 

### kids, we would always go down to the shore to meet any fisherman coming in; a good mealwould sure to follow

. T hemen would often come in with a whole boator canoe fulL If thepollock hadn't come inpastKendall's Head to theBay, they wouldgo out over to HeadHarbor to fish. WN) 

## May 27, 1948 Philip Neptune Committal services for Cpl. Philip J. Neptune, first American Indian to visit the American Red Cross Service Club, where he said, 'Tve changed my opinion ofGreat Britain since coming here to fight by the side ofthe Red Coats. It's time we Americans forgot such things as tea parties and stamp taxes." The First World War 

### ll casualty from the Quoddy area, Neptune's body was taken to the home ofhis uncle, William Neptune, Tuesday, accompanied by Elton McGowan, Brooklyn, N.Y. A requiem High Mass was celebrated in St. Anne's Catholic Church at 8 a.m. Wednesdayby the Rev. Joseph Gallagher of St. John, N.B. followed by a full military service at the grave under the direction ofRalph A. Ray Post, Veterans ofForeign Wars, Eastport. Neptune, a resident ofBaltimore at the time ofenlistment, became a member ofthe 29th Division overseas. He was a member ofthe National Guard ofMaryland and went into Federal service with the activation ofthe National Guard before Pearl Harbor. He comes from an Indian family ofconsiderable renown. His great-great-grandfather fought in the American Revolution as an Indian scout and his grandmother was queen ofher Tribe for many years by virtue ofher extreme age. Surviving is a son, Philip J

. Neptune Jr

., Hartford, Conn., a halfsister, Mrs. Mary Newell; a brother, Horace J. Neptune, arid an uncle, William Neptune, all ofPleasant Point. 

### June 9, 1948 Wallace Brown's Collection Another landmark is fast disappearing, the Wallace Brown store at the Union St reet comer. Mr. Brown was a leading man in Calais in his day. His knowledge ofthe older Calais was extensive and his writings are still being used. It seems too bad that his collection ofIndian crafts and many otherIndian things ofthe Passamaquoddy Tribe could not be kept together.

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