An overview of the history of First Nations in Canada and how it relates to modern day treaties in British Columbia.

1. Historic Timeline
Edited 2014. Original presentation developed by
Kitselas Treaty Office, July 2012

2. • We have tried to continue to
be active, viable partners in
the development of BC since
the arrival of non-aboriginal
people
• Earliest written records show
that this began in the 1700s
with missionaries from Russia,
and fur traders from Europe.
Although this most likely
began much earlier.
• At this time we traded and
maintained good
relationships with visitors to
our lands
Credit: National Archives of Canada,
A-022556

3. D #23005
Credit: National Archives of Canada, C-140172
1700s
1763  the Royal Proclamation
of King George II recognizes
Aboriginal title and rights to land
While this is recognized by the
British Crown, on the North
American continent this promise
is not held
1792  Captain George
Vancouver charts the coast of BC,
more trading ships begin to
venture inland
With the arrival of more trading
ships, links with coastal and
inland fur traders are solidified
D #23005
Credit: National Archives of Canada,
C-140172

4. 1800-1850
1830  aware of the spread of new disease, the HBC begins
inoculating Native people against smallpox throughout what is
now known as Canada
The epidemic reaches BC in the 1860s, thousands die from
smallpox. 1 in 3 aboriginal people die in the epidemic
1843  HBC begins laying down boundaries in BC
This lays the foundation for how land and territories will be
parceled out to non-aboriginal peoples

5. 1850-1860
1858  British government passes an act establishing direct rule
on mainland BC. James Douglas, the first governor of BC, maps
Indian Reserves
1859  William Downie claims the Skeena pass in Gitksan
territory as a route for the Pacific Railroad, soon after more
extensive exploration begins along the Skeena River
This railroad corridor is still used today

6. 1860-1900
1864  Joseph Trutch replaces James Douglas. He reduces size
of reserves and implements discriminatory ‘Indian’ policies,
denies existence of Aboriginal rights
This perception does not change until the 1970s
1867  Constitution Act Section 91(24) says Canada is
responsible for Indians and Reserve lands for Indians
I-56070
Credit: British Columbia Archives

7. 1860-1900
1876  Indian Act imposed
1880s  Government begins to remove aboriginal children from
their homes, placing them in Residential Schools
Schools begin to phase out in the 1960s, the last one closes in the
1990s

8. 1860-1900
1884  Parliament outlaws the potlatch, the primary social,
economic and political express of most Native cultures on the
Northwest Coast
1887  Tsimshian and Nisga’a Chiefs travel to Victoria to press
for treaties and self-government. They are turned away.
“Since the arrival of the first Europeans in the Nass Valley, the Nisga'a nation has
attempted to negotiate on numerous occasions and to sign a treaty relating to their land
claims. In the mid 1880s, aboriginal leaders started making representations to the
authorities. However, their efforts met with no success for several decades, because the
leaders at the time refused to recognize the aboriginal titles to the land they were
claiming” Right Honourable Ghislain Fournier Manicouagan, QC speaking in front of
Canadian Parliament

9. 1900-1930
1915  McKenna-McBride Commission re-evaluated reserve
lands and resulted in significant changes to reserve lands in BC.
Local First Nations were a part of this Commission making
passionate pleas to have their lands restored. Their concerns
were dismissed.

10. 1900-1930
1927  Canada makes it illegal for Aboriginal people to organize
to discuss land claims or raise funds to hire a lawyer. Resistance
moves underground

11. 1931-1950
1931  Tsimshian and Haida form Native Brotherhood to secretly
discuss land claims and form protests on fishing, lands, taxation
and social issues.
“…we suffer as a minority race and as wards, or minors without a voice in
regard to our own welfare. We are prisoners of a controlling power in our own
country – a country which has stood up under the chaos of two world wars,
beneath the guise of democracy and freedom, yet has enslaved a native people
in their own home land.”
~ Jack Beynon, Tsimshian, Port Simpson, 1931
1949  Native men allowed to vote provincially, native people
can vote federally in 1960

12. 1950-2000
1951  Canada amends the Indian Act, removing the anti-potlatch
and anti-land claims provisions
1973  through the Calder Case, the Supreme Court of Canada
rules aboriginal title did exist prior to contact, but is split on
whether it continued to exist in the present
Credit: CBC
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/features
/first-nations/mapping-the-future/pack-
10-key-dates/index-10keydates.html

13. 1950-2000
1982  Constitution Act recognizes and affirms Aboriginal and
treaty rights
1984  Tsimshian Tribal Council (TTC) is formed, representing
the 7 Tsimshian groups in the Northwest
1990  The 7 Tsimshian groups enter into modern-day treaty
negotiations
2004  Tsimshian Tribal Council disbands. Treaty negotiations
continue with Kitselas, Kitsumkalum, Kitasoo, Hartley Bay and
Metlakatla as part of the Tsimshian First Nations Treaty Society

14. The future
The Tsimshian Nations could have Final Agreements, ushering in
a new era of political and socioeconomic opportunity free from
the bounds of the Indian Act