Associate Professor
BA University of New Brunswickwalls
MA Dalhousie University
PhD University of New Brunswick
902-457-5975
martha.walls@msvu.ca

Born on Prince Edward Island, Martha Walls holds a BA and PhD from the University of New Brunswick and an MA from Dalhousie University. Prior to coming to the Mount in 2013, Martha taught for four years at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, NS.

Martha’s research area lies in Atlantic Canadian First Nations history, with a specialization in the historical experiences of 20th century First Nations women. Her book, “no need of a chief for this band”: The Maritime Mi’kmaq and Federal Electoral Legislation, 1899-1951, was published by UBC Press in 2010. Her work has also appeared in Acadiensis, the Canadian Journal of Native Studies, and the Journal of the Canadian Historical Association.

Martha is currently working on a SSHRC-funded study of the Micmac Community Development Program, as well as studies that examine the experiences of female Aboriginal day school teachers and the role gender played in the disestablishment of the New Germany Mi’kmaq reserve in Nova Scotia.

At MSVU Martha teaches courses in Women’s, First Nations, and Canadian history.


Books

“no need of a chief for this band”: The Maritime Mi’kmaq and Federal Electoral Legislation, 1899-1951. Vancouver: UBC Press, 2010.

Articles

“The Complex Truth: Intersections between Day Schools and the Shubenacadie Residential Scholl,” ActiveHistory.ca, 14 November 2019, http://activehistory.ca/2019/11/the-complex-truth-intersections-between-day-schools-and-the-shubenacadie-residential-school/. Reprinted in Nova Scotia Advocate, https://nsadvocate.org/2019/11/19/the-complex-truth-intersections-between-day-schools-and-the-shubenacadie-residential-school/.

With Clingon Debogorksi, Magdalena Milosz, and Karen Bridget Murray, “Education ‘After’ Residential Schools,” ActiveHistory.ca, 24 October 2019.

“Mi’kmaw Politicism and the Origins of the Micmac Community Development Program, 1900-1957.” Journal of the Royal Nova Scotia Historical Society. Vol. 20 (2017): 1-17.

“Confederation and Maritime First Nations.” Acadiensis. 46, 2 (Summer/Autumn 2017): 155-176.

“The Disposition of the Ladies: Mi’kmaw women and the Removal of the King’s Road Reserve, Sydney, Nova Scotia.” Journal of Canadian Studies. 50, 3, (Fall 2017): 538-65.

“Mi’kmaw Women and St. Francis Xavier University’s Micmac Community Development Program, 1958-1970.” Acadiensis. 44, 2 (Summer/Autumn 2015): 51-74.

“‘[t]he teacher that cannot understand their language should not be allowed’: Colonialism, Resistance, and Female Mi’kmaw Teachers in New Brunswick Day Schools, 1900-1923.” Journal of the Canadian Historical Association. 22, 1 (2011): 35-68.

“‘part of that whole system’: Maritime Day and Residential Schooling and Federal Culpability.” Canadian Journal of Native Studies. 30, 2 (Winter 2010): 361-385.

“Countering the ‘Kingsclear Blunder’: Maliseet Resistance to the Kingsclear Relocation Plan, 1945 1949.” Acadiensis. 37, 1 (Winter/Spring 2008): 3-30.