The Colony of Vancouver Island and British Columbia Royal Navy, Douglas Treaties, Confederation Part 2

1848 Crown Colony of Vancouver Island Government needed an official British presence on Pacific Coast Colony created to solidify claim against American threat

James Douglas: A History 1851 Appointed Governor of Vancouver Island “Father of BC” Held progressive decisions regarding First Nations and their land Also Chief Factor of Fort Victoria for the HBC

The Douglas Treaties Douglas knew that that the British needed to officially gain land title to First Nations land Only way European colonization would work Decided to negotiate 14 treaties between 1850-1854

Douglas Treaties: A Better Way First Nations choose where their reserves would be and size Surveyors instructed to include already established First Nations Villages Land for cattle and horses included 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

The Colony of BC 1858 The colony of BC created on the mainland Douglas made Governor 49th parallel to 54- 40N

Government Debt! By mid 1860s the colonies of VI and BC had less than 10 000 each Fewer people to pay taxes By 1865 Vancouver Island $300 000 debt BC over 1 million debt British Colonial office does not want to help to colonial governments No bank will give loans

Consolidating the Debt and Colonies The only solution was to merge the colonies and consolidate the debt August 6 1866 Vancouver Island and BC officially united

British Columbia Conditions to Enter Confederation promise of a rail line linking BC to the rest of Canada within 10 years Dominion government must take responsibility for BC’s debt

BC joined Confederation as the 6th province of Canada July 20th 1871