To 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
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Declaration of Indian Chiefs in Southern Interior of British Columbia (Spences Bridge) July 16, 1910
To 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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History of the In-SHUCK-ch Treaty Process
The Province of British Columbia is unique
on the subject of treaties with First Nations. While in the
rest of Canada,
it was the policy of the colonial government to sign treaties
with aboriginal people, there are very few colonial government
treaties
in British Columbia. As a result, there has been a long history
of what has been called the “Land Question, ” and
the search for a solution. Thus far there has been much debate
and
little in the way of real solutions for First Nations in
British Columbia until the advent of the British Columbia Treaty
Process.
The communities who make up what is known as
In-SHUCK-ch are very proud to state that we were first
in the door at
the British
Columbia Treaty Commission offices on December 15 1993 to offer
our Statement of Intent to enter the treaty process. We then
worked very hard to finish a Framework Agreement (Stage 3)
in 1997. Immediately after, we began negotiating an Agreement
in Principle and had anticipated completing that stage in December
of 1999.
In-SHUCK-ch took a two-year hiatus from the
negotiating process in order to spend more time explaining
treaty in the communities.
During that two-year break, N’Quat’qua, one of
the member communities, elected not to return to treaty negotiations.
We miss their presence at our negotiations but respect their
decision. Without N’Quat’qua, we needed to reenter
the treaty process as a new entity and therefore began anew.
We submitted a new Statement
of Intent, with map, on April
24, 2002. Our new Framework Agreement was signed on April
1 2003. We are currently in Stage 5 and making rapid
progress
once again.
In-SHUCK-ch is involved in the British Columbia Treaty Process
for many different reasons. A number of our community members
have spoken out about the poor present day conditions and their
fears about the future. Encroachment on the land around the
traditional territory and the inevitable devolution of the
Department of Indian affairs would leave us with few future
opportunities unless we acted soon. One of our elders stated
the situation most clearly:
“We have no say in our land. We don’t own it.
We have been corralled on reserves that are getting too small
for us to live on. Even this small piece of land is not ours.
The only thing that we sign for and own is a car. We pay for
a house but we don’t own it because we don’t
own the land. The Queen holds our land.”
Negotiating a treaty is the solution for In-SHUCK-ch. We have
decided to become active participants in determining our own
future. When Final Agreement has been completed, we will have
the tools to deal with the past, the present and the future.
We will govern ourselves on a land base, which will provide
us with economic opportunities for revenue and employment,
we will interact with the regional districts and the local
communities on a government to government basis and we will
maintain and enrich the cultural traditions which define who
we are.
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