Declaration of the Lillooet Tribe
Encyclopedia
The Declaration of the Lillooet Tribe is an important document in the history of relations between First Nations
and the governments of the Dominion
of Canada
and the Province
of British Columbia
. Signed in Spences Bridge
on May 10, 1911 by a committee of the chiefs of the St'at'imc peoples, taken down by anthropologist James Teit
, a resident of Spences Bridge who lived among the Nlaka'pamux
, it is an assertion of sovereignty over traditional territories as well as a protest against recent alienations of land by settlers at Seton Portage, British Columbia
.
Like the Nisga'a Declaration and other documents from the same period, the Declaration of the Lillooet Tribe points to the rising organization of native politicians in the lead-up to World War I
, climaxing in the federal government's 1922 potlatch law, which banned the potlatch any assemblies of more than three First Nations males as a political meeting.
Today the Declaration of the Lillooet Tribe is on the table as part of the St'at'imc
position, but the St'at'imc
are not part of the formal British Columbia Treaty Process
as is also the case with other member governments of the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs
, which rejects the process. The smaller bands of the lower Lillooet River
broke off from the Lillooet Tribal Council
in order to take part in the treaty process, and are now incorporated as the In-SHUCK-ch Nation
.
That group included the N'quat'qua First Nation at D'Arcy
on Anderson Lake but they are now independent of both organizations and are completely self-governing, though as with the In-SHUCK-ch maintaining cultural and family links with the other communities of the St'at'imc
peoples. Chiefs of communities of the In-SHUCK-ch in the following list are those from the Tenas Lake Band, the Samakwa Band (see Samahquam) the Skookum Chuck Band and the Port Douglas Band
; (the Tenas Lake Band, near Samahquam, is now integrated with the others.)
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 county 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 too 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 honourably. 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 BC. Government, but we could never learn how to get redress. We felt helpless and dejected; but lately we began 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 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 16, 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 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 of Feb last. Thereafter we held a meeting ourselves at Lillooet on the 24th of Feb. last, when the chiefs of all Lillooet bands resolved as follows:
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 the time out of mind, and have been cultivated by use 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 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 Rights Association, Me Clark, K.C. and Mr. McDonald, Inspector of Indian Agencies.
(Signed)
Spences Bridge, B.C. May 10, 1911
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...
and the governments of the Dominion
Dominion
A dominion, often Dominion, refers to one of a group of autonomous polities that were nominally under British sovereignty, constituting the British Empire and British Commonwealth, beginning in the latter part of the 19th century. They have included Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Newfoundland,...
of Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and the Province
Province
A province is a territorial unit, almost always an administrative division, within a country or state.-Etymology:The English word "province" is attested since about 1330 and derives from the 13th-century Old French "province," which itself comes from the Latin word "provincia," which referred to...
of 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...
. Signed in Spences Bridge
Spences Bridge, British Columbia
Spences Bridge is a community in the Canadian province of British Columbia, situated 23 miles north east of Lytton and 32 miles from Ashcroft. In 1892, the population included 32 people of European ancestry and 130 First Nations people. There were 5 general stores, 3 hotels, one Church of England...
on May 10, 1911 by a committee of the chiefs of the St'at'imc peoples, taken down by anthropologist 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...
, a resident of Spences Bridge who lived among the Nlaka'pamux
Nlaka'pamux
The Nlaka'pamux , commonly called "the Thompson", and also Thompson River Salish, Thompson Salish, Thompson River Indians or Thompson River people) are an indigenous First Nations/Native American people of the Interior Salish language group in southern British Columbia...
, it is an assertion of sovereignty over traditional territories as well as a protest against recent alienations of land by settlers at Seton Portage, British Columbia
Seton Portage, British Columbia
Seton Portage is a historic rural community in British Columbia, Canada, that is about 25 km west of Lillooet, located between Seton Lake and Anderson Lake. "The Portage" was formed about 10,000 years ago when the flank of the Cayoosh Range, which is the south flank of the valley, let go and...
.
Like the Nisga'a Declaration and other documents from the same period, the Declaration of the Lillooet Tribe points to the rising organization of native politicians in the lead-up to World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, climaxing in the federal government's 1922 potlatch law, which banned the potlatch any assemblies of more than three First Nations males as a political meeting.
Today the Declaration of the Lillooet Tribe is on the table as part of the St'at'imc
St'at'imc
The St'át'imc are an Interior Salish people located in the southern Coast Mountains and Fraser Canyon region of the Interior of the Canadian province of British Columbia.St'át'imc culture displayed many features typical of Northwest Coast peoples: the...
position, but the St'at'imc
St'at'imc
The St'át'imc are an Interior Salish people located in the southern Coast Mountains and Fraser Canyon region of the Interior of the Canadian province of British Columbia.St'át'imc culture displayed many features typical of Northwest Coast peoples: the...
are not part of the formal British Columbia Treaty Process
British Columbia Treaty Process
The British Columbia Treaty Process is a land claims negotiation process started in 1993 to resolve outstanding issues - including claims to un-extinguished aboriginal rights - with British Columbia's First Nations....
as is also the case with other member governments of the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs
Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs
The Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs is a First Nations political organization founded in 1969 in response to Jean Chrétien's White Paper proposal to assimilate Status Indians and disband the Department of Indian Affairs....
, which rejects the process. The smaller bands of the lower Lillooet River
Lillooet River
The Lillooet River is a major river of the southern Coast Mountains of British Columbia. It begins at Silt Lake, on the southern edge of the Lillooet Crown Icecap about 80 kilometres northwest of Pemberton and about 85 kilometres northwest of Whistler...
broke off from the Lillooet Tribal Council
Lillooet Tribal Council
The Lillooet Tribal Council is the official English name of the largest tribal council of what is also known as the St'at'imc Nation, though not including all governments of St'at'imc peoples - the term St'at'imc Nation has another context of all St'at'imc peoples, not just those within this tribal...
in order to take part in the treaty process, and are now incorporated as the In-SHUCK-ch Nation
In-SHUCK-ch Nation
The In-SHUCK-ch Nation, also known as Lower Lillooet people, are a small First Nations Tribal Council on the lower Lillooet River south of Pemberton-Mount Currie in the Canadian province of British Columbia...
.
That group included the N'quat'qua First Nation at D'Arcy
D'Arcy, British Columbia
D'Arcy is an unincorporated community in the Canadian province of British Columbia, approximately 150 kilometres northeast of the city of Vancouver...
on Anderson Lake but they are now independent of both organizations and are completely self-governing, though as with the In-SHUCK-ch maintaining cultural and family links with the other communities of the St'at'imc
St'at'imc
The St'át'imc are an Interior Salish people located in the southern Coast Mountains and Fraser Canyon region of the Interior of the Canadian province of British Columbia.St'át'imc culture displayed many features typical of Northwest Coast peoples: the...
peoples. Chiefs of communities of the In-SHUCK-ch in the following list are those from the Tenas Lake Band, the Samakwa Band (see Samahquam) the Skookum Chuck Band and the Port Douglas Band
Port Douglas, British Columbia
Port Douglas, sometimes referred to simply as Douglas, is a remote community in British Columbia, Canada at the head of Harrison Lake, which is the head of river navigation from the Strait of Georgia...
; (the Tenas Lake Band, near Samahquam, is now integrated with the others.)
The text of the Declaration
Declaration of the Lillooet TribeTo 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 county 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 too 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 honourably. 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 BC. Government, but we could never learn how to get redress. We felt helpless and dejected; but lately we began 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 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 16, 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 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 of Feb last. Thereafter we held a meeting ourselves at Lillooet on the 24th of Feb. last, when the chiefs of all 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 the time out of mind, and have been cultivated by use 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 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 Rights Association, Me 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 JAMES, Chief Seaton Lake Band
- JOHN KOIUSTGHEN, Chief Pasulko Band
- DAVID EKSIEPALUS, Chief No 2 Lillooet Band
- CHARLES NEKAULA, Chief Nkempts Band
- JAMES SMITH, Chief Tenas Lake Band
- HARRY NKASUSA, Chief Samakwa Band
- PAUL KOITELAMUGH, Chief Skookum Chuck Band
- AUGUST AKSTONKAIL, Chief Port Douglas Band
- JEAN BABTISTE, Chief No 1 Cayuse Creek Band
- DAVID SKWINSTWAUGH, Chief Bridge River Band
- THOMAS BULL, Chief Slahoos Band
- THOMAS JACK, Chief Anderson Lake Band
- CHIEF FRANSOIS THOMAS ADOLPH, for La Fountain Indians
Spences Bridge, B.C. May 10, 1911
See also
- Aboriginal peoples in CanadaAboriginal peoples in CanadaAboriginal peoples in Canada comprise the First Nations, Inuit and Métis. The descriptors "Indian" and "Eskimo" have fallen into disuse in Canada and are commonly considered pejorative....
- aboriginal land claims
- Unceded territory