History: Guides of Yarmouth Sam Francais ( The Chief )

Sam was born on the Meteghan Reserve August 10 1873. He was a Mic Mac who lived off the land and was self sufficient. He guided for moose and deer and was well known around

Yarmouth. One old gentlemen also a Mic Mac fished and trapped with Sam. He was a good dancer and played the fiddle and was also a good singer.

Sam was a craftsmen who made baskets and axe handles. He spoke Mic Mac, English and French. Sam lived on the Holly Road across from a small stream.

he had built a small cabin there. He roamed everywhere and at one time lived in the southern United States. Clark Shatford and Harry Allen, two buisnessmen from Yarmouth would take Sam to the sports shows in Boston where he had a booth and made his crafts. Sam also had a booth at the local Yarmouth exhibition in the 1920's.

Sam also made canoes and would tell how the Indians cut the bark off the trees to people and how a canoe was made.Sam was an excellant guide and guided many americans who came to this area.

Once Sam was following his trap line and a bobcat stole from his line time and time again and each time he met up with the bobcat he had no gun or bow and arrow so he was never able to kill the animal. As he got older he became sick and died on the Yarmouth reserve.