 The local Mi'kmaq had remained relatively isolated from intrusion except by the European fishermen and a few fur traders and missionaries.The events leading up to the Battle of Restigouche were the beginning of a significant intrusion into the heart of Northern Mi'kmaq territory.The arrival of such a large population of destitute refugees had serious repercussions on the local Amerindian population by the obligation to hunt for survival amid depleting local game.