The Fight against: Colonization and the Indian Act Violent and non-Violent acts of resistance + Early political organization

Timeline instructions Using the information provided in this handout, create a “timeline of resistances” Be sure to include the following in the timeline: -nations involved -reasons for the resistance (a few details) -result / outcome -key people -date + title ***we will add to this timeline – the last date will be 2013*** I will keep all the timelines in our room

Chronological Order of Resistance 1816: Battle of Seven Oaks -Metis upset with Pemmican Proclamation and the loss of their traditional territory -they decided to fight against Lord Selkirk and his followers -the metis owned. -this marked the birth of the Metis nation

Chronological Order of Resistance 1864: Chilcotin War  covered in Chap 5 -Violent conflict btw. miners and FNs as a result of alleged deliberate spreading of smallpox RESULT: Peace talks were called. Instead of Peace leaders / warriors were hanged. 1869: Red River Rebellion -HBC sold Ruperts Land (traditional Metis land) to Canada -Metis not consulted nor recognized and ‘land owners’ -divided the land into square townships (disregarded metis strip farms) Louis Reil led a Metis Rebellion they executed Thomas Scott and were very successful in the rebellion (won) -Riel created “Metis Bill of Rights” that the gov’t signed off on -leads to the creation of Manitoba (a metis province)

1874: Sto:lo Petition -members of the Sto:lo Nation (New Westminister) experienced massive slashes (80% reduction) to the size of their reserves by JOSEPH TRUTCH -the created a letter of petition, had it signed by members of the nation and submitted it to the superintendent of the DIA -RESULT: Nothing was done to help the Sto:lo. -WHY? Fed. Gov’t knew that BC would not sign treaties and was fearful that if pressured they may leave Canada and join the USA 1885: Northwest Uprising -Metis upset because gov’t not honoring Manitoba act -Riel and Gabriel Dumont lead an uprising -Metis lose at Battle of Batoche  Riel later executed

-Nisga’a and Tsimshian Nations resisted Reserve System 1887: Meeting in Victoria -Nisga’a and Tsimshian Nations resisted Reserve System -they met with the Premiere of BC and BC Indian Commish. -they requested 2 things: 1. Increased Reserve Size 2. Treaty Signing -supported by Governor General Lord Dufferin “We must all admit that the condition of the Indian question in BC is not satisfactory. Most unfortunately, as I think, there has been an initial error ever since James Douglas quitted office . . Of BC neglecting to recognize what is known as Indian title. In Canada this has always been done: no government, whether provincial or central, has failed to acknowledge the that the original title to the land existed in the Indian tribes . . . But in BC except [for the Douglas Treaties] the provincial government has always assumed sovereignty over the land . . . I consider that our Indian fellow subjects are entitled to exactly the same civil rights under the laws as are possessed by the white population.” -Result: Premiere did nothing

BC 1st Nations also want to sign TREATIES Treaty 8 (1899) Conflict -Signed in the Dene-Thah and Dunne-Za Nations of BC (also parts of Alb / Sask / NWT) Why was it signed when BC denied Aboriginal Title? -threat of war  FN of the Northeast were growing tired of disrespectful miners in their territories -Canada did not want a war -BC (despite this) REFUSED to sign a treaty -Canada demands that BC sign a treaty - BC still refuses -Canada signs a treaty  Treaty 8 on behalf of BC BC 1st Nations also want to sign TREATIES

1910: Laurier Memorial  covered in Chap 5 -Chiefs from the S. Interior wrote a letter to the Prime Minister of Canada – Sir Wilfred Laurier outlining their loss of land and poor treatment. Laurier vowed to help them but never got reelected 1911: Victoria Conference -over 100 chiefs from all of BC came together to meet with the premiere (McBride) -chiefs were represented by Peter Kelly – very well educated Haida nation member -Kelly slammed the premiere and demanded that BC follow the Royal Proclamation and the rest of Canada by signing treaties and giving fair amount of reserve lands RESULT: Premiere responded by saying that FNs needed take their concerns to the DIA and that he could do nothing to help them  Shortly after this conference things became even worse

The beginning of political organization -FNs quickly begin to realize that they need to UNITE in order to have a strong collective voice against the govt. -Early 1900s  we see the beginnings o 1909 – Indian Tribes of the Province of BC  this was the first attempt to organize all the FNs in BC 1909 – Committee of friends of the Indians  a group of non-native ministers and supporters with the goal of advancing the recognition of Aboriginal rights public education and fundraising