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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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)

5. 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

6. -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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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