The Douglas Treaties, also known as the Vancouver Island Treaties or the Fort Victoria Treaties, were a series of treaties signed between certain indigenous groups on Vancouver Island and the Colony of Vancouver Island.
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.
Treatiesedit
As the colony expanded the HBC started buying up lands for colonial settlement and industry from Aboriginal peoples on Vancouver Island.[1] For four years the governor, James Douglas, made a series of fourteen land purchases from Aboriginal peoples.
To negotiate the terms, Douglas met first in April 1850 with leaders of the Songhees nation, and made verbal agreements. Each leader made an X at the bottom of a blank ledger.[2] The actual terms of the treaty were only incorporated in August, and modelled on the New Zealand Company's deeds of purchase for Maori land, used after the signing of Treaty of Waitangi.[3]
The Douglas Treaties cover approximately 930 square kilometres (360 sq mi) of land around Victoria, Saanich, Sooke, Nanaimo and Port Hardy, all on Vancouver Island, that were exchanged for cash, clothing and blankets. The terms of the treaties promised that they would be able to retain existing village lands and fields for their use, and also would be allowed to hunt and fish on the surrendered lands.[4]
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.[1] Along with Treaty 8, the Douglas Treaties were the last treaties signed between the crown and the First Nations in British Columbia until Nisga'a Final Agreement.
The treaties are endlessly disputed for a number of reasons and have been subject to numerous court cases. One of the major controversies regarding the treaties is the actual terms of the treaties were left blank at the time of signing and a number of clauses and pages were instead inserted at a later date.[5]
Contextedit
The Treaties were signed during a period of severe cultural destruction in which the Songhees had experienced precipitous population decline, due to the arrival of foreign diseases. The Treaties remain highly controversial given that it is unclear whether the Aboriginal leaders knew exactly what they were signing over.
British Columbia Indian Treaties In Historical Perspective, Dennis F. K. Madill, Research Branch, Corporate Policy, Department of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, 1981
External linksedit
Treaty Texts - Douglas Treaties
Map of Vancouver Island Treaties, Hulquminum Treaty Group website
January 27, 2024
douglas, treaties, also, known, vancouver, island, treaties, fort, victoria, treaties, were, series, treaties, signed, between, certain, indigenous, groups, vancouver, island, colony, vancouver, island, 1850, 1854sir, james, douglasdrafted1850, 1854locationcol. The Douglas Treaties also known as the Vancouver Island Treaties or the Fort Victoria Treaties were a series of treaties signed between certain indigenous groups on Vancouver Island and the Colony of Vancouver Island Douglas Treaties 1850 1854Sir James DouglasDrafted1850 1854LocationColony of Vancouver IslandPartiesFirst Nations of Vancouver Island Colony of Vancouver IslandLanguageEnglish Contents 1 Background 2 Treaties 3 Context 4 Treaty members 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External linksBackground editWith the signing of the Oregon Treaty 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 Treaties editAs the colony expanded the HBC started buying up lands for colonial settlement and industry from Aboriginal peoples on Vancouver Island 1 For four years the governor James Douglas made a series of fourteen land purchases from Aboriginal peoples To negotiate the terms Douglas met first in April 1850 with leaders of the Songhees nation and made verbal agreements Each leader made an X at the bottom of a blank ledger 2 The actual terms of the treaty were only incorporated in August and modelled on the New Zealand Company s deeds of purchase for Maori land used after the signing of Treaty of Waitangi 3 The Douglas Treaties cover approximately 930 square kilometres 360 sq mi of land around Victoria Saanich Sooke Nanaimo and Port Hardy all on Vancouver Island that were exchanged for cash clothing and blankets The terms of the treaties promised that they would be able to retain existing village lands and fields for their use and also would be allowed to hunt and fish on the surrendered lands 4 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 1 Along with Treaty 8 the Douglas Treaties were the last treaties signed between the crown and the First Nations in British Columbia until Nisga a Final Agreement The treaties are endlessly disputed for a number of reasons and have been subject to numerous court cases One of the major controversies regarding the treaties is the actual terms of the treaties were left blank at the time of signing and a number of clauses and pages were instead inserted at a later date 5 Context editThe Treaties were signed during a period of severe cultural destruction in which the Songhees had experienced precipitous population decline due to the arrival of foreign diseases The Treaties remain highly controversial given that it is unclear whether the Aboriginal leaders knew exactly what they were signing over Treaty members editTreaty Group Name Modern First Nation band government Land covered by Treaty Money exchanged for land RefTeechamitsa Esquimalt First Nation Country lying between Esquimalt and Point Albert 27 10 shillings UK 3 129 in 2024 6 Kosampson Esquimalt First Nation Esquimalt Peninsula and Colquitz Valley 52 10 shillings UK 5 973 in 2024 6 Whyomilth Esquimalt First Nation Northwest of Esquimalt Harbour 30 UK 3 413 in 2024 6 Chewhaytsum Becher Bay Band Sooke 45 ten shillings UK 5 176 in 2024 6 Chilcowitch Songhees First Nation Point Gonzales 45 UK 5 119 in 2024 6 Che ko nein Songhees First Nation Point Gonzales to Cedar Hill 79 10 shillings UK 9 044 in 2024 6 Sooke T sou ke Nation North west of Sooke Inlet 48 6 shillings 8 pence UK 5 506 in 2024 6 Ka ky aakan Becher Bay Band Metchosin 43 6 shillings 8 pence UK 4 937 in 2024 6 Saanich Tribe South Tsawout First Nation and Tsartlip First Nation First Nations South Saanich 41 13 shillings 4 pence UK 4 733 in 2024 6 Saanich Tribe North Pauquachin First Nation and Tseycum First Nations North Saanich amount not stated 6 Saalequun Snuneymuxw First Nation Former Nanaimo Band area not stated amount not stated 6 Swengwhung Songhees First Nation area not stated amount not stated 6 Queackar Kwakiutl Kwawkelth Band Fort Rupert 64 UK 7 281 in 2024 6 Quakiolth Kwakiutl Kwawkelth Band Fort Rupert 86 UK 9 784 in 2024 6 References edit a b Douglas Treaties 1850 1854 Executive Council of British Columbia 2009 Retrieved July 28 2009 B C Archives seeks world heritage status for Douglas treaties Victoria News August 08 2013 8 21 AM Robin Fisher With or Without Treaty Indian Land Claims in Western Canada in Renwick ed Sovereignty amp Indigenous Rights pp 53 1811 1867 Pre Confederation Treaties II Canada in the Making Archived from the original on 2006 03 02 Retrieved July 28 2009 The Douglas Treaties A Legacy of Controversy Victoria News Victoria News 2015 02 13 Retrieved 2018 08 08 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Douglas Treaty Payments PDF Executive Council of British Columbia llbc leg bc ca 2009 Retrieved July 28 2009 Further reading editBritish Columbia Indian Treaties In Historical Perspective Dennis F K Madill Research Branch Corporate Policy Department of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada 1981External links editTreaty Texts Douglas Treaties Map of Vancouver Island Treaties Hulquminum Treaty Group website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Douglas Treaties amp oldid 1195278339, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
