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

2. 1848 Crown Colony of Vancouver Island
Government needed an official British presence on Pacific Coast
Colony created to solidify claim against American threat

3. 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

4. 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

6. 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

7. The Colony of BC
1858 The colony of BC created on the mainland
Douglas made Governor
49th parallel to N

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

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

10. 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

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