THE COLONIAL ERA Chapter 5

Taking Control The fur traders who lived at the trading posts during the Fur Trade Era were only concerned about business. They did not impose any laws or regulations on the BC First Nations. However, in 1840 the British government started to push the HBC for formal colonization. increased tension between the Europeans and the BC First Nations because the Europeans were asserting their authority.

The Royal Proclamation In eastern Canada, The Royal Proclamation of 1763 came into effect. contained Britain's policies on how to deal with First Nations – and on making treaties. included policies for dealing with First Nations based on nation to nation relationship settlers not to colonize on Aboriginal land until agreements reached guiding principles from making treaties based on lands belonged to First Nations people But British Columbia did not follow The Royal Proclamation.

gold rush transformed geographical and political Landscape Colonies were established without negotiation with or consideration to First Nations presence of First Nations irrelevant Fort Victoria 1843 large harbor and agricultural land became capital of new colony Colony of Vancouver Island leased to HBC for 10 yrs James Douglas administered the colony and continue fur-trading established first government policies having an impact on First Nations

Gold in the Fraser HBC encouraged First Nations to look for gold paid for prospecting equipment Douglas tried to keep discovery of gold a secret to prevent chaos 1858 word got out and 1000s of miners into Victoria and Fraser Stolo Nation called these new immigrants Xwelitem meant “hungry people” or “starving people”referring to the thousands of poorly provisioned miners

Gold Rush Threatens Traditional Ways of First Nations gold rush moved and exhausted lands and resources some First Nations became miners but were resented by other miners miners traveled on traditional First Nations land ignored traditional use of land disturbed environment – mining and building communities no respect for First Nations Brought disease

Colony of British Columbia 1858 headquarters at New Westminster influx of miners created new transportation routes roads needed for easy access British justice Matthew Baillie Begbie judged many early cases throughout BC (called the hanging judge) James Douglas governed both colonies until 1864 2 colonies became too expensive to run and went into debt Colonies of BC and Vancouver Island joined in 1866

Tsilhqot’in Uprising The Tsilhqot’in Uprising was a conflict between peoples of the Tsilhqot’in Nation in the interior plateau of the colony of BC and a crew of construction workers building a road from Bute Inlet to the goldfields in the Cariboo. A consequence of fear, smallpox, discrimination, and colonial policies

Tsilhqot’in Uprising or War Tsilhqot’in Uprising/Chilcotin War (case study pg 84) Read and be prepared to discuss the series of events

Lhatsassin Memorial Day On October 26, 1999, two hundred people gathered in Quesnel. They were there to honour five Tsilhqot’in chiefs who had been publicly hanged 135 years earlier. The people stood near the unmarked graves of Head War Chief Lhatsas?in, Chief Biyil, Chief Tilaghed, Chief Taged, and Chief Chayses. Although no one knows the exact location, people think they lie underneath Quesnel’s hospital.

LAURIER MEMORIAL On 25 August 1910 First Nations chiefs signed a proclamation to the prime minister of Canada, Sir Wilfred Laurier, demanding that their land rights be settled. They included, from left: Kamloops Chief Louis; Bonaparte Chief Basil David; and Douglas Lake Chief  John Chelahitsa (right). In 1910 Prime Minister Sir Wilfred Laurier toured BC on an election campaign and held a meeting with an Aboriginal delegation in Kamloops. The Laurier Memorial is a rare historical document expressing a First Nations point of view of the historical events of colonization. Although written in English, the language reflects Secwepemc oral style. It has since been used as evidence in a number of court cases.

James Douglas HBC Chief Factor and Governor from 1851-1864 immense power over lives and lands of First Nations Enforced progressive decisions regarding First Nations and their land given clear instructions on colonial policy – recognize Aboriginal title to land and negotiate treaty (87)

The Douglas Treaties: A Better Way 14 treaties between BC colonial government and First Nations between 1850-1854 First Nations choose where their reserves would be and size Surveyors instructed to include already established First Nations Villages Land for cattle and horses, cash, clothing or blankets Allowed traditional hunt/fish rights Douglas treaties acknowledged Aboriginal Title the claim by Aboriginals that they have ownership of the land because they were first to occupy it

A Step Backwards no negotiations for land after 1854 instead of treaties moved to “Indian Reserves” given parcel of lands but owned by Crown Wanted to assimilate First Nations to be part of the English community outcry from European and American settlers fearing First Nations taking best land

PRE-EMPT To pre-empt land (known elsewhere as homesteading) was the main form of land settlement by immigrants in North America. In Canada, British subjects were given 160 acres of land free, as long as they cleared the land and started farming on it. During the Douglas administration, First Nations people were encouraged to pre-empt land

Joseph Trutch succeeded Douglas and worked to take land away from First Nations stated First Nations of BC never owned land contradicted Royal Proclamation 1763, British colonial policy and intent of Douglas Treaties Argued land was empty and free for the taking Said act of making reserves was a generous gift removed the right of First Nations to pre-empt land

GUNBOAT “JUSTICE” government believed brute force and violence was only form of justice First Nations understood the might of the British Empire imposed throughout the world by the British Navy base at Esquimalt (near Victoria) “gunboats” were stationed

“Send out the gunboats” If First Nations committed an offence, gunboats were deployed commander of ship would try to arrest accused person, if met by resistance: sent in the marines to take hostages threaten to destroy village and show of force seized canoes to stop escape whole village blasted along with any people remaining

14 major incidents occurred where villages were threatened most disastrous – Nuu-chah-nulth groups in 1864 had 9 villages destroyed, and 64 canoes threats as late as 1888 on Skeena River captured suspects hanged either on spot or Victoria/New Westminster heavy handed justice left whole tribe with sentence houses destroyed people dispersed to other villages no canoes = couldn’t harvest food or other resources needed for survival