Allied Tribes of British Columbia
Encyclopedia
The Allied Tribes of British Columbia (ATBC) was an Indigenous rights
organization formed following the First World War. There were 16 tribal groups involved, all focused on the issues of land claims
and aboriginal title
in British Columbia
.
In 1916, the Indian Rights Association and the Interior Tribes of British Columbia united in opposition to the McKenna-McBride Royal Commission
(which was tasked with reviewing the size of Indian reserves in the province with an aim to confirming, expanding, or, more typically, reducing them) and formed the Allied Tribes of British Columbia. Many of the nations had met the previous year in Spence's Bridge to support a Nisga'a petition for a treaty, with the support of James Teit
.
In 1921, the British Judicial Committee of the Privy Council
sided with Nigerian Chief Oluwa in his claim for compensation for land around Apapa
in Lagos
, Nigeria
. Inspired by this decision, the Allied Tribes attempted to bring their case for aboriginal title to the Privy Council in London. In 1926, three B.C. Chiefs (including William Pierrish of the Neskonlith Indian Band
) travelled to London with a petition for aboriginal title. They were met there by the Canadian High Commission who promised to pass the documents along to King George
.
A meeting was arranged in Ottawa in the spring of 1927 where the claim was dismissed by Duncan Campbell Scott
, the Deputy Superintendent-General of Indian Affairs. The Indian Act
was then amended to prohibit anyone (aboriginal or otherwise) from soliciting funds for Indian legal claims without a special license from the Superintendent-General. Scott claimed this was necessary to protect Indigenous peoples from lawyers and "agitators." Without any ability to raise funds for their work, the Allied Tribes of British Columbia was dissolved.
Indigenous rights
Indigenous rights are those rights that exist in recognition of the specific condition of the indigenous peoples. This includes not only the most basic human rights of physical survival and integrity, but also the preservation of their land, language, religion and other elements of cultural...
organization formed following the First World War. There were 16 tribal groups involved, all focused on the issues of land claims
Land claims
Land claims are a legal declaration of desired control over areas of property including bodies of water. The phrase is usually only used with respect to disputed or unresolved land claims...
and aboriginal title
Aboriginal title
Aboriginal title is a common law doctrine that the land rights of indigenous peoples to customary tenure persist after the assumption of sovereignty under settler colonialism...
in British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
.
In 1916, the Indian Rights Association and the Interior Tribes of British Columbia united in opposition to the McKenna-McBride Royal Commission
McKenna-McBride Royal Commission
The Royal Commission on Indian Affairs for the Province of British Columbia was a Royal Commission established in 1912 to resolve the "Indian reserve question" in British Columbia....
(which was tasked with reviewing the size of Indian reserves in the province with an aim to confirming, expanding, or, more typically, reducing them) and formed the Allied Tribes of British Columbia. Many of the nations had met the previous year in Spence's Bridge to support a Nisga'a petition for a treaty, with the support of James Teit
James Teit
James Alexander Teit was an anthropologist and photographer who worked with Franz Boas to study Interior Salish First Nations peoples in the late 19th and early 20th centuries...
.
In 1921, the British Judicial Committee of the Privy Council
Judicial Committee of the Privy Council
The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council is one of the highest courts in the United Kingdom. Established by the Judicial Committee Act 1833 to hear appeals formerly heard by the King in Council The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (JCPC) is one of the highest courts in the United...
sided with Nigerian Chief Oluwa in his claim for compensation for land around Apapa
Apapa
Apapa is the major port of the city of Lagos, Nigeria, and is located to the west of Lagos Island, across Lagos Harbour. It is also one of Nigeria's 774 Local Government Areas.- Overview :...
in Lagos
Lagos
Lagos is a port and the most populous conurbation in Nigeria. With a population of 7,937,932, it is currently the third most populous city in Africa after Cairo and Kinshasa, and currently estimated to be the second fastest growing city in Africa...
, Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
. Inspired by this decision, the Allied Tribes attempted to bring their case for aboriginal title to the Privy Council in London. In 1926, three B.C. Chiefs (including William Pierrish of the Neskonlith Indian Band
Neskonlith Indian Band
The Neskonlith Indian Band is First Nations government in the Canadian province of British Columbia located in the Shuswap district east of Kamloops. It is a member of the Shuswap Nation Tribal Council, one of two main governmental bodies of the Secwepemc people...
) travelled to London with a petition for aboriginal title. They were met there by the Canadian High Commission who promised to pass the documents along to King George
George V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
.
A meeting was arranged in Ottawa in the spring of 1927 where the claim was dismissed by Duncan Campbell Scott
Duncan Campbell Scott
Duncan Campbell Scott was a Canadian poet and prose writer. With Charles G.D. Roberts, Bliss Carman, and Archibald Lampman, he is classed as one of Canada's Confederation Poets....
, the Deputy Superintendent-General of Indian Affairs. The Indian Act
Indian Act
The Indian Act , R.S., 1951, c. I-5, is a Canadian statute that concerns registered Indians, their bands, and the system of Indian reserves...
was then amended to prohibit anyone (aboriginal or otherwise) from soliciting funds for Indian legal claims without a special license from the Superintendent-General. Scott claimed this was necessary to protect Indigenous peoples from lawyers and "agitators." Without any ability to raise funds for their work, the Allied Tribes of British Columbia was dissolved.