Chopping Canadian Historical Wood

David, your lack of research literature has both an upside and downside. You drive home the downside clearly for the reader. The upside, however, is you have the chance to contribute original research. You are not going to footnote the seminal research of another person. This is exciting; you ought to be able to find enough research literature in related fields to help you set the stage for your original research.

This happened to your humble servant at the University of Toronto. He originally intended to study British history there for his M.A., but when he got there, thank God, faculty members pointed out that in effect British history had been written, but Canadian history was barely written in comparison with British and American histories.

The result was, thank God, I switched from British to Canadian history, where, believe it or not, I am an expert on a principal, leading "Father of Confederation," T.D. McGee, who was a Founder of the Dominion as a united country, not a series of royal colonies.

You are in the same situation. You are "chopping wood" in a totally new "forest"! Lucky you!