1. THE COLONIAL ERA
Chapter 5

2. 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.

3. The Royal Proclamation
In eastern Canada, The Royal Proclamation of 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.

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

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

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. 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)

13. The Douglas Treaties: A Better Way
14 treaties between BC colonial government and First Nations between
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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. “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

20. 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