Douglas Treaties
Encyclopedia
The Douglas Treaties , Vancouver Island Treaties or the Fort Victoria Treaties were a series of treaties signed between certain First Nations
on Vancouver Island and the Colony of Vancouver Island
.
in 1846, the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC)
determined that its trapping rights in the Oregon Territory
were tenuous. Thus in 1849, it moved its western headquarters from Fort Vancouver
on the Columbia River
(present day Vancouver, Washington
) to Fort Victoria. Fort Vancouver's Chief Factor
, James Douglas
, was relocated to the young trading post to oversee the Company's operations west of the Rockies
.
This development prompted the British colonial office
to designate the territory a crown colony on January 13, 1849. The new colony, Colony of Vancouver Island
, was immediately leased to the HBC for a ten year period, and Douglas was charged with encouraging British settlement. Richard Blanshard
was named the colony's governor. Blanshard discovered that the hold of the HBC over the affairs of the new colony was all but absolute, and that it was Douglas who held all practical authority in the territory. There was no civil service, no police, no militia, and virtually every British colonist was an employee of the HBC.
, Saanich
, Sooke, Nanaimo and Port Hardy, all on Vancouver Island that were exchanged for cash, clothing and blankets. They were able to retain existing village lands and fields for their use, and also were allowed to hunt and fish on the surrendered lands.
These fourteen land purchases became the fourteen Treaties that make up the Douglas Treaties. Douglas didn't continue buying land due to lack of money and the slow growth of the Vancouver Island colony.
First Nations
First Nations is a term that collectively refers to various Aboriginal peoples in Canada who are neither Inuit nor Métis. There are currently over 630 recognised First Nations governments or bands spread across Canada, roughly half of which are in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. The...
on Vancouver Island and the Colony of Vancouver Island
Colony of Vancouver Island
The Colony of Vancouver Island , was a crown colony of British North America from 1849 to 1866, after which it was united with British Columbia. The united colony joined the Dominion of Canada through Confederation in 1871...
.
Background
With the signing of the Oregon TreatyOregon Treaty
The Oregon Treaty is a treaty between the United Kingdom and the United States that was signed on June 15, 1846, in Washington, D.C. The treaty brought an end to the Oregon boundary dispute by settling competing American and British claims to the Oregon Country, which had been jointly occupied by...
in 1846, the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC)
Hudson's Bay Company
The Hudson's Bay Company , abbreviated HBC, or "The Bay" is the oldest commercial corporation in North America and one of the oldest in the world. A fur trading business for much of its existence, today Hudson's Bay Company owns and operates retail stores throughout Canada...
determined that its trapping rights in the Oregon Territory
Oregon Territory
The Territory of Oregon was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from August 14, 1848, until February 14, 1859, when the southwestern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Oregon. Originally claimed by several countries , the region was...
were tenuous. Thus in 1849, it moved its western headquarters from Fort Vancouver
Fort Vancouver
Fort Vancouver was a 19th century fur trading outpost along the Columbia River that served as the headquarters of the Hudson's Bay Company in the company's Columbia District...
on the Columbia River
Columbia River
The Columbia River is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river rises in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, Canada, flows northwest and then south into the U.S. state of Washington, then turns west to form most of the border between Washington and the state...
(present day Vancouver, Washington
Vancouver, Washington
Vancouver is a city on the north bank of the Columbia River in the U.S. state of Washington. Incorporated in 1857, it is the fourth largest city in the state with a 2010 census population of 161,791 as of April 1, 2010...
) to Fort Victoria. Fort Vancouver's Chief Factor
Factor (agent)
A factor, from the Latin "he who does" , is a person who professionally acts as the representative of another individual or other legal entity, historically with his seat at a factory , notably in the following contexts:-Mercantile factor:In a relatively large company, there could be a hierarchy,...
, James Douglas
James Douglas (Governor)
Sir James Douglas KCB was a company fur-trader and a British colonial governor on Vancouver Island in northwestern North America, particularly in what is now British Columbia. Douglas worked for the North West Company, and later for the Hudson's Bay Company becoming a high-ranking company officer...
, was relocated to the young trading post to oversee the Company's operations west of the Rockies
Rocky Mountains
The Rocky Mountains are a major mountain range in western North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch more than from the northernmost part of British Columbia, in western Canada, to New Mexico, in the southwestern United States...
.
This development prompted the British colonial office
Secretary of State for the Colonies
The Secretary of State for the Colonies or Colonial Secretary was the British Cabinet minister in charge of managing the United Kingdom's various colonial dependencies....
to designate the territory a crown colony on January 13, 1849. The new colony, Colony of Vancouver Island
Colony of Vancouver Island
The Colony of Vancouver Island , was a crown colony of British North America from 1849 to 1866, after which it was united with British Columbia. The united colony joined the Dominion of Canada through Confederation in 1871...
, was immediately leased to the HBC for a ten year period, and Douglas was charged with encouraging British settlement. Richard Blanshard
Richard Blanshard
Richard Blanshard MA was an English barrister and first governor of the Colony of Vancouver Island from its foundation in 1849 to his resignation in 1851....
was named the colony's governor. Blanshard discovered that the hold of the HBC over the affairs of the new colony was all but absolute, and that it was Douglas who held all practical authority in the territory. There was no civil service, no police, no militia, and virtually every British colonist was an employee of the HBC.
Treaties
As the colony expanded the HBC started buying up lands for colonial settlement and industry from aboriginal peoples on Vancouver Island. For four years the governor, James Douglas, made a series of fourteen land purchases from aboriginal peoples. The Douglas Treaties cover approximately 930 square kilometres (359.1 sq mi) of land around VictoriaVictoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
, Saanich
Saanich
The Saanich or W̱SÁNEĆ are indigenous nations from the north coast of the Olympic Peninsula in Washington, the Gulf and San Juan Islands, southern Vancouver Island and the southern edge of the Lower Mainland in British Columbia.*BOḰEĆEN – Pauquachin...
, Sooke, Nanaimo and Port Hardy, all on Vancouver Island that were exchanged for cash, clothing and blankets. They were able to retain existing village lands and fields for their use, and also were allowed to hunt and fish on the surrendered lands.
These fourteen land purchases became the fourteen Treaties that make up the Douglas Treaties. Douglas didn't continue buying land due to lack of money and the slow growth of the Vancouver Island colony.
Treaty Members
| Treaty First Nation Name | Modern First Nation Name | Land covered by Treaty | Money exchanged for land | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teechamitsa | Esquimalt First Nation Esquimalt First Nation The Esquimalt First Nation, also known as the Esquimalt Indian Band and Esquimalt Nation, is a First Nations band government of the Esquimalt people. Historically their village was located closer to Victoria proper, but today their main reserve is on the north shore of Esquimalt Harbour adjacent... |
Country lying between Esquimalt and Point Albert | (UK United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages... £ in ) |
|
| Kosampson | Esquimalt First Nation Esquimalt First Nation The Esquimalt First Nation, also known as the Esquimalt Indian Band and Esquimalt Nation, is a First Nations band government of the Esquimalt people. Historically their village was located closer to Victoria proper, but today their main reserve is on the north shore of Esquimalt Harbour adjacent... |
Esquimalt Peninsula and Colquitz Valley | (UK £ in ) | |
| Whyomilth | Esquimalt First Nation Esquimalt First Nation The Esquimalt First Nation, also known as the Esquimalt Indian Band and Esquimalt Nation, is a First Nations band government of the Esquimalt people. Historically their village was located closer to Victoria proper, but today their main reserve is on the north shore of Esquimalt Harbour adjacent... |
Northwest of Esquimalt Harbour | (UK United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages... £ in ) |
|
| Chewhaytsum | Becher Bay Band Te'mexw Treaty Association The Te'mexw Treaty Association handles Treaty negotiations in the BC Treaty Process for a number of First Nations located in the northern Strait of Georgia of British Columbia. The members of the association are former signatories of the Douglas Treaties, a group of treaties signed in... |
Sooke | (UK United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages... £ in ) |
|
| Chilcowitch | Songhees First Nation Songhees First Nation The Songhees First Nation is a First Nations government on located around Victoria, British Columbia on southern Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.-External links:*... |
Point Gonzales | (UK United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages... £ in ) |
|
| Che-ko-nein | Songhees First Nation Songhees First Nation The Songhees First Nation is a First Nations government on located around Victoria, British Columbia on southern Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.-External links:*... |
Point Gonzales to Cedar Hill | (UK United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages... £ in ) |
|
| Sooke | T'sou-ke Nation T'sou-ke Nation The T'sou-ke Nation is the First Nations government of the T'sou-ke people. The nation is located on Vancouver Island, in the province of British Columbia, Canada. The T'souk-e people are the namesake of the town of Sooke, British Columbia.... |
North-west of Sooke Inlet | (UK United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages... £ in ) |
|
| Ka-ky-aakan | Becher Bay Band Te'mexw Treaty Association The Te'mexw Treaty Association handles Treaty negotiations in the BC Treaty Process for a number of First Nations located in the northern Strait of Georgia of British Columbia. The members of the association are former signatories of the Douglas Treaties, a group of treaties signed in... |
Metchosin | (UK United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages... £ in ) |
|
| Saanich Tribe (South) | Tsawout First Nation Tsawout First Nation The Tsawout First Nation is a First Nations government located on Vancouver Island. They are a member of the Sencot'en Alliance. In the 1850s they were signatories to the Douglas Treaties.-Chief and Councillors:... and Tsartlip First Nation Tsartlip First Nation The Tsartlip First Nation is a First Nation located on the Saanich Peninsula, in Saanich territory on Vancouver Island. They are a member of the Sencot'en Alliance fighting for Native rights. In the 1850s they were signatories to one of the Douglas Treaties.... First Nations |
South Saanich | (UK United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages... £ in ) |
|
| Saanich Tribe (North) | Pauquachin First Nation Pauquachin First Nation The Pauquachin First Nation is a First Nations government located on Vancouver Island. They are a member of the Sencot'en Alliance fighting for Native rights. In the 1850s they were signatories to the Douglas Treaties.-Chief and Councillors:... and Tseycum First Nation Tseycum First Nation The Tseycum First Nation is a First Nations government located on Vancouver Island. In the 1850s they were signatories to the Douglas Treaties.-Chief and Councillors:-Indian Reserves:Indian Reserves under the administration of the band are:... s |
North Saanich | [amount not stated] | |
| Saalequun | Snuneymuxw First Nation (Former Nanaimo Band) Snuneymuxw First Nation The Snuneymuxw First Nation is the band government of the Snuneymuxw of west-central Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. The Snuneymuxw First Nation have lived along the eastern coast of south-central Vancouver Island, British Columbia for an estimated 5,000 years... |
[area not stated] | [amount not stated] | |
| Swengwhung | Songhees First Nation Songhees First Nation The Songhees First Nation is a First Nations government on located around Victoria, British Columbia on southern Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.-External links:*... |
[area not stated] | [amount not stated] | |
| Queackar | Kwakiutl (Kwawkelth) Band Kwakiutl First Nation The Kwakiutl First Nation is a First Nations government based on northern Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada, focused on the community of Port Hardy, British Columbia in the Queen Charlotte Strait region, and also known as the Fort Rupert Band, known in traditional Kwakwaka'wakw terms as... |
Fort Rupert. | (UK United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages... £ in ) |
|
| Quakiolth | Kwakiutl (Kwawkelth) Band Kwakiutl First Nation The Kwakiutl First Nation is a First Nations government based on northern Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada, focused on the community of Port Hardy, British Columbia in the Queen Charlotte Strait region, and also known as the Fort Rupert Band, known in traditional Kwakwaka'wakw terms as... |
Fort Rupert. | (UK United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages... £ in ) |