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Treaty INTRI Treaty Information Declaration BC Treaty Process |
DeclarationThe Declaration of the Lillooet Tribe was signed by all of the Chiefs of the Ucwalmícwts-speaking bands on May 10, 1911. It is thought by most people to be the original mandate of In-SHUCK-ch Nation to negotiate a treaty with the federal (and by extension, the provincial) government. This is because of the Chiefs’ agreement with the eight articles of the Declaration of the Southern Interior. Yet the Declaration of the Lillooet Tribe is, in itself, the culmination of years of grievances going unaddressed. The pre-emption of First Nations lands by white settlers in British Columbia had gone unabated since it began in 1860, while First Nations people were prohibited from owning land. First Nations were being corralled onto smaller and smaller reserves to open up the land to agricultural production. Existing reserve land was being expropriated for railways and other public uses. First Nations fishing, hunting and trapping rights were being curtailed under the guise of conservation, while commercial fishermen were quickly decimating salmon stocks. There is evidence that the First Peoples living along the Lillooet River were fighting for their title and rights, in one form or another, as early as 1873, if not earlier. At the Queen’s Birthday celebration in New Westminster, 2000 First Nations people accompanied Father Durieu, a Catholic missionary, down the Fraser River to voice their grievances to Israel Wood Powell, the first Indian Superintendent for British Columbia. The petition presented to Powell contained the marks of the Chiefs of the lower Fraser River, Douglas-Lillooet, and Howe Sound areas. Among those named in the petition were nine chiefs from the territory now claimed by In-SHUCK-ch Nation in their Treaty Settlement Lands. The 1880’s saw the first significant organization of First Nations groups to voice their concerns to the federal and provincial governments. A Commission of Enquiry was appointed in 1887 to look into the conditions of the Indians of the Northwest Coast; however it concluded, as was the paradigm of the day, that First Nations title to the land did not exist. This did not deter First Nations people but merely strengthened their resolve. A delegation of three Chiefs met with King Edward in London in 1906. The Nisga’a Land Committee was formed in 1907 and conducted activities, in one form or another, until the Nisga’a Treaty was signed in 1997. The Indian Rights Association, formed in 1909, was the first organization to represent First Nations interests across the province of British Columbia. The Interior Salish chiefs met that same year at Spences Bridge, with James Teit acting as interpreter. This meeting formed an organization known as the Interior Tribes of British Columbia. When Wilfred Laurier toured the province in 1910, he was met with Indian delegations at Prince Rupert and Kamloops. All of these events coalesced in the meetings of the Lillooet chiefs to produce a document which voiced their concerns as they themselves saw it. Declaration of the Lillooet Tribe, May 10, 1911To whom it may concern: We the underwritten chiefs of the Lillooet tribe (being all the chiefs of said tribe) declare as follows: We speak the truth, and we speak for our whole tribe, numbering about 1400 people at the present time. We claim that we are the rightful owners of our tribal territory, and everything pertaining thereto. We have always lived in our country; at no time have we ever deserted it, or left it to others. We have retained it from the invasion of other tribes at the cost of our blood. Our ancestors were in possession of our country centuries before the whites came. It is the same as yesterday when the latter came, and like the day before when the first fur trader came. We are aware the B.C. government claims our country, like all other Indian territories in B.C.; but we deny their right to it. We never gave it nor sold it to them. They certainly never got the title to the country from us, neither by agreement nor conquest, and none other than us could have any right to give them title. In early days we considered white chiefs like a superior race that never lied nor stole, and always acted wisely, and honorably. We expected they would lay claim to what belonged to themselves only. In these considerations we have been mistaken, and gradually have learned how cunning, cruel, untruthful, and thieving some of them can be. We have felt keenly the stealing of our lands by the B.C. government, but we could never learn how to get redress. We felt helpless and dejected; but lately we begin to hope. We think that perhaps after all we may get redress from the greater white chiefs away in the King's country, or in Ottawa. It seemed to us all white chiefs and governments were against us, but now we commence to think we may yet get a measure of justice. We have been informed of the stand taken by the Thompson River, Shuswap, and Okanagan tribes, as per their declaration of July 16th, 1910. We have learned of the Indian Rights Association of B.C., and have also heard the glad news that the Ottawa government will help us to obtain our rights. As we are in the same position in regard to our lands, etc., and labor under the same disadvantages as the other tribes of B.C., we resolved to join with them in their movement for our mutual rights. With this object, several of our chiefs attended the Indian meeting at Lytton on Feb. 13th, 1910, and again the meeting at Kamloops on the 6th Feb. last . Thereafter we held a meeting ourselves at Lillooet on the 24th Feb. last, when the chiefs of all the Lillooet bands resolved as follows: First-That we join the other interior tribes affiliated with the Indian Rights Association of the Coast. Second-That we stand with them in the demand for their rights, and the settlement of the Indian land question. Third-That we agree unanimously with them in all the eight articles of their Declaration, as made at Spences Bridge, July, 1910. In conclusion, we wish to protest against the recent seizing of certain of our lands at "The Short Portage," by white settlers on authority of the B.C. government. These lands have been continually occupied by us from time out of mind, and have been cultivated by us unmolested for over thirty years. We also wish to protest against the building of railway depots and sidings on any of our reservations, as we hear is projected. We agree that a copy of this Declaration be sent each to the Hon. Mr. Oliver, the Superintendent of Indian Affairs, the Secretary of the Indian Right Association, Mr. Clark, K.C., and Mr. McDonald, Inspector of Indian Agencies. (Signed) JAMES NRAITESKEL,Chief Lillooet Band JAMES STAGER, Chief Pemberton Band PETER CHALAL, Chief Mission Band JAMES, Chief Seaton Lake Band JOHN KOIUSTGHEN, Chief Pauslko Band DAVID EKSIEPAULUS, Chief No. 2 Lillooet Band CHARLES NEKAULA, Chief Nkempts Band JAMES SMITH, Chief Tenass Lake Band HARRY NKASUSA, Chief Samakwa Band PAUL KOITELAMUGH, Chief Skookum Chuck Band AUGUST AKSTONKAIL, Chief Port Douglas Band JEAN BAPTISTE, Chief No. 1Cauese Creek Band DAVID SKWINSTWAUGH, Chief Bridge River Band THOMAS BULL, Chief Slahoose Band THOMAS JACK, Chief Anderson Lake Band CHIEF FRANCOIS THOMAS ADOLPH, for La Fountain Indian Spences Bridge, B.C. May 10th,1911 Declaration of Indian Chiefs in Southern Interior of British Columbia (Spences Bridge) July 16, 1910To Whom It May Concern: We, the underwritten Chiefs of the Indian Bands in the Southern Interior of British Columbia, hereby make known our position in regard to the question of Indian rights, and the policy of the Indian Rights Association of BC, as follows: First, we stand for treaty rights with the dominion government, the same as all the Indian Tribes in the other provinces of Canada and that all matters of present importance to the people of each of our tribes be subject to these treaties, so that we shall have a definite understanding regarding lands, water, timber, game, fish, etc., and we consider such other matters as schools, doctors, aid to the aged, Indian funds, etc., and general assistance by the government should also be included in these treaties. Second, we stand for compensation to us by the British Columbia government for all lands of ours appropriated, or held by them, including all lands pre-empted or bought by settlers, miners, lumbermen, etc. Third, we stand for the enlargement of our reservations wherever we consider it necessary, by having a sufficiency of land allotted to us so as to enable us to compete on better terms with whites in the way of making a living. Fourth, we stand for the obtaining of permanent and secure title (to be acknowledged by the government as such) of our ownership of our present reservations, and of such lands as may be added thereto. Fifth, we stand for the carrying of our claims before the privy council of England for settlement, and in the event of our obtaining justice as we expect, we ask such compensation as may be awarded us for our lands, etc., shall be paid to us, half of it in cash, and the other half to be retained by the dominion government, and used as occasion may require for our benefit. Sixth, we ask for and expect the dominion government to support us in our claims, and help us to obtain our rights to the best of their ability. Seventh, we believe the Indian Rights Association of BC (which has been formed by other Indians of this country) has the same object and claims that we stand for, therefore we declare our agreement with the members of the same, and our resolve to join them, and support them in the furtherance of our mutual interests, and the attainment of our rights. Eighth, we believe that the Indian Rights Association of BC has hired Mr. Clark, K.C., of Toronto, to look after their interests and conduct their case in harmony with their desires, and those of dominion government, and we support it financially and otherwise, as well as we are able. |
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