Pre-contact
Aboriginal settlement with increasing complex cultures exist in all areas of BC.
1400s
European settlement begins in North America.
1744
Royal Proclamation of 1763 proclaimed Aboriginal people as “nations or tribes” and acknowledges that they continue to possess traditional territories until they are “ceased or purchased by” the Crown. The Proclamation has never been repealed and has the force of law in Canada, recognized in section 25 of the Constitution Act of 1982.
The first recorded contact of Spanish explorer Hernandez and Honda people.
1778
Captain Cook landed on the coast of BC and claims the land forBritain.
1793
The first recorded contact between George Vancouver and Nisga’a people.
1849
Vancouver Island becomes a British colony. The British Crown gives trading rights to BC and placed it in charge of immigration and settlement.
1850
James Douglas made a series of 14 land purchases from the Aboriginal peoples on Vancouver Island. The Douglas Treaties covers approximately 576 square kilometers of Vancouver Island. Aboriginal people were paid in blankets and promised the right to hunt on unsettle lands and to carry on fishing “as formerly practiced”. A policy was set to allow no more than 10 acres of reserve land per Aboriginal family could pre-empt 320 acres.
1858
Mainland of BC declared a colony of Britain.
1859
New Westminster becomes first capital of BC.
1862
Small pox epidemic kills one in every three Aboriginal people.
1864
Joseph Trutch appointed commissioner of land and works. Trutch denies Aboriginal title and sets forth a policy of prohibiting rights of pre-emption of Aboriginal people and adjusting the size of reserve land.
1866
The colony of Vancouver Island merges with the mainland colony of BC.
1867
The British North American Act of 1867 creates the Dominion of Canada.
1871
BC joins Dominion of Canada; control of Indians is assumed by Canada, BC regains authority over land and resources.
1876
The Indian Act was created. The Act consolidates all previous Indian legislation; defines Indian status and the superintendent general is given administrative powers over many aspects of Indian life.
1880
Removing of Aboriginal children from home and family for education and “civilization” begins. These schools were known as residential schools.
1881
Chief Mountain leads a Nisga’a protest delegation toVictoria.
1884
An amendment to the Indian Act prohibits the Potlatch and Sundance. Although the first conviction under this law comes in 1890, it is not enforced on a large scale until the 1920’s. The law is revoked in 1951.
1899
Treaty 8 is singed with the Beaver, Cree and Dene peoples located in the Peace River District of the province.
1906
Delegations from several Aboriginal nations travel to Victoria, Ottawa, and London England regarding land rights.
1912
The federal and provincial governments agree that a royal commission should re-examine the size of every reserve in the province.
1916
Allied Tribes of BC formed.
McKenna-McBride Commission made recommendations to the redistribution of reserve lands regarding the enlargement of some reserves and reduction of others.
1920
McKenna-McBride’s recommendations of the reserve lands were implemented.
1927
Joint parliamentary committee in Ottawa finds that land claims have no legal bases. The committee also recommends a prohibition of raising money for land claims.
1931
Native Brotherhood of BC was formed.
1949
BC First Nations receive the right to vote in provincial elections. Frank Calder is elected to the provincial legislature.
1951
The Indian Act is amended and laws prohibiting the Potlatch, Sun Dance and land claims activities were repealed.
1955
Nisga’a Land Committee is re-established as Nisga’a Tribal Council.
1960
Aboriginal people were given the right to vote in federal elections.
The closure of residential schools begins.
1969
Ottawa introduces the “White Paper” (Statement of Government of Canada on Indian Policy), which seeks to eliminate certain “privileges” of Aboriginal people, by abolishing the Indian Act and federal obligation to Aboriginal people.
BC Association of Non-Status Aboriginals is formed to proceed with a land claim on behalf of all BC status Aboriginal people.
1973
Calder decision: the Supreme Court of Canada rules that he Nisga’a held Aboriginal title before settlers came, but the judges split evenly on the question of the continuing existence of that title.
1974
Federal government starts negotiations with the Nisga’a people.
1982
The new Canadian Constitution guarantees Aboriginal rights and treaty rights.
1985
Bill C-31, enacted by parliament, restored the status and band membership to Native women who lost their status due to marring non-Native men as outlined in the Indian Act. The bill also restores status to their children and bands regain control over membership.
1987
Native Affairs Secretariat created by the Government of BC.
Gitksan and Wet’suwet’en tribal nations launch a legal action in the BC Supreme Court, claiming right of ownership jurisdiction to their ancestral lands. The case is known as Delgamuukw.
1988
Native Affairs becomes the BC Ministry of Native Affairs.
1990
Oka crisis receives national attention when Mohawk warriors engaged in a stand-off with the Quebec police and Canadian army. Aboriginal people across Canada stood together to support the Mohawk to emphasize and demand recognition of Aboriginal title and rights.
Sparrow Supreme Court decision concludes that Musqueam people have the right to fish for food and ceremonial purpose has not been exhausted.
BC joined the First Nations of Canada treaty negotiations.
First Nations, BC and Canada agree to create a task force to develop a process for land claims in BC.
1991
Delgamuukw decision: The BC Supreme Court rejects the tribal nation’s claims. Chief Justice McEachern finds that Aboriginal title has been extinguished in BC. The Gitksan-Wet’suwet’en appeal the decision.
BC claims Tasks Force releases a report recommending a six-stage treaty negotiation process and the formation of the BC Treaty Commissions to facilitate negotiations.
The BC Ministry of Native Affairs was renamed BC Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs.
Government of BC officially recognizes the inherent rights of the First Nations to Aboriginal title and to self-government and pledged to negotiate just and honorable treaties.
1992
Representing of the First Nations Summit and the federal and BC government make a formal commitment to negotiate treaties in BC by signing the BC Treaty Commissions Agreement.
1993
The BC Court of Appeal recognizes the continuing existence of Aboriginal rights in the Delgamuukw case.
1994
The Nisga’a Agreement in Principle is initialed and singed by representations of the Nisga’a Tribal Council and the federal and BC governments.
1997
Report of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples released.
1998
Supreme Court ruling on Delgamuukw: a new trial must be held because the oral histories of the Gitksan-Wet’suwet’en were not assessed correctly.
A statement of apology was given from the federal government for its treatment of Aboriginal peoples, based on the recommendation of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal peoples.
The Nisga’a Final Agreement is initialed.
1999
Nisga’a Final Agreement is approved by the Nisga’a and the BC government.
2005
The vision of a First Nations Education Action Plan is the development and implementation of sustainable education systems under the full control and jurisdiction of First Nations based on the recognition of inherent Aboriginal and treaty rights, and under international law.
2006
Assembly of First Nations calls on the Government of Canada to address the First Nations education crisis.
2009
The Aboriginal Education Enhancement Agreement was signed by the BC Ministry of Education, the Vancouver Board of Education, the University of British Columbia, Musqueam Nation, the Métis Nation, Coast Salish Nations, and the Urban Aboriginal People. This was created to support Aboriginal students with the following goals:
- To create a sense of pride, self-esteem, belonging, place, acceptance and caring in their schools
- To achieve academic success in the mastery of skills and actively participate with success in the their education from kindergarten through to grade 12 and beyond
- To establish community connections that promote increased knowledge regarding diversity among Aboriginal people, the history, traditions, and cultural awareness.
2010
The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) launches a national call to action on education through asking the corporate sector, philanthropic organizations, higher learning institutions, provincial and federal governments and ordinary Canadians to join campaign. By supporting education and skills training we can ensure First Nations youth will reach their full potential and that our Nations resume our place as integral to the success and prosperity of Canada.
Aboriginal Connections 