William Henry Collison
Encyclopedia
William Henry Collison also known as W. H. Collison, was an Anglican
missionary among First Nations people in coastal British Columbia
, Canada.
Collison was born in County Armagh
, Ireland, on November 12, 1847. He attended the Church Missionary School at Islington, in England.
In 1873 he married Marion M. Goodwin and was sent the same year by the Church of England's Church Missionary Society (CMS) to Metlakatla, British Columbia
, to assist William Duncan
in converting the Tsimshian
people. Marion Collison became the first white woman resident in that community and their first child was the first white child
born there. But Collison came into fierce conflict with Duncan over Duncan's moves to establish his mission there as an independent church out of the control of the CMS.
In 1876 he became the first missionary to work among the Haida people on the nearby Queen Charlotte Islands
. He was ordained at Metlakatla in 1879.
In 1881 he began work among the Gitxsan
, up the Skeena River
from the Tsimshian. He founded the first mission at Hazelton, B.C.
, in Gitksan territory.
In 1891 he became Archdeacon of Metlakatla, from which Duncan had departed to found his new community of "New" Metlakatla, Alaska
, taking most of the inhabitants of the village with him. From 1893 to 1894 Collison served as Secretary for the CMS's northern B.C. mission.
In the early 1890s he and his family moved to Kincolith, a Nisga'a
village on the Nass River
in northern B.C., founded as an Anglican mission by the medical missionary Robert Tomlinson
. Collison remained there until his death on January 23, 1922.
Collison is best remembered for his vivid 1915 memoir In the Wake of the War Canoe, which contains numerous ethnological insights, including information on the nearly extinct Tsetsaut people, remnants of whom lived at Kincolith.
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
missionary among First Nations people in coastal 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...
, Canada.
Collison was born in County Armagh
County Armagh
-History:Ancient Armagh was the territory of the Ulaid before the fourth century AD. It was ruled by the Red Branch, whose capital was Emain Macha near Armagh. The site, and subsequently the city, were named after the goddess Macha...
, Ireland, on November 12, 1847. He attended the Church Missionary School at Islington, in England.
In 1873 he married Marion M. Goodwin and was sent the same year by the Church of England's Church Missionary Society (CMS) to Metlakatla, British Columbia
Metlakatla, British Columbia
Metlakatla, British Columbia, is a small community that is one of the seven Tsimshian village communities in British Columbia, Canada. It is situated at Metlakatla Pass near Prince Rupert, British Columbia...
, to assist William Duncan
William Duncan (missionary)
William Duncan was an English-born Anglican missionary who founded the Tsimshian communities of Metlakatla, British Columbia, in Canada, and Metlakatla, Alaska, in the United States...
in converting the Tsimshian
Tsimshian
The Tsimshian are an indigenous people of the Pacific Northwest Coast. Tsimshian translates to Inside the Skeena River. Their communities are in British Columbia and Alaska, around Terrace and Prince Rupert and the southernmost corner of Alaska on Annette Island. There are approximately 10,000...
people. Marion Collison became the first white woman resident in that community and their first child was the first white child
First white child
The birth of the first white child was a celebrated occasion across many parts of the New World. Such births are a matter of pride for many townships, and they are commemorated with plaques and monuments at the location of the event. The birth was seen as such an honor that it was at times...
born there. But Collison came into fierce conflict with Duncan over Duncan's moves to establish his mission there as an independent church out of the control of the CMS.
In 1876 he became the first missionary to work among the Haida people on the nearby Queen Charlotte Islands
Queen Charlotte Islands
Haida Gwaii , formerly the Queen Charlotte Islands, is an archipelago on the North Coast of British Columbia, Canada. Haida Gwaii consists of two main islands: Graham Island in the north, and Moresby Island in the south, along with approximately 150 smaller islands with a total landmass of...
. He was ordained at Metlakatla in 1879.
In 1881 he began work among the Gitxsan
Gitxsan
Gitxsan are an indigenous people whose home territory comprises most of the area known as the Skeena Country in English...
, up the Skeena River
Skeena River
The Skeena River is the second longest river entirely within British Columbia, Canada . The Skeena is an important transportation artery, particularly for the Tsimshian and the Gitxsan - whose names mean "inside the Skeena River" and "people of the Skeena River" respectively, and also during the...
from the Tsimshian. He founded the first mission at Hazelton, B.C.
Hazelton, British Columbia
Hazelton is a small town located at the junction of the Bulkley and Skeena Rivers in northern British Columbia, Canada. It was founded in 1866 and has a population of 293...
, in Gitksan territory.
In 1891 he became Archdeacon of Metlakatla, from which Duncan had departed to found his new community of "New" Metlakatla, Alaska
Metlakatla, Alaska
Metlakatla is a census-designated place on Annette Island in Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area, Alaska, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 1,375.- History :...
, taking most of the inhabitants of the village with him. From 1893 to 1894 Collison served as Secretary for the CMS's northern B.C. mission.
In the early 1890s he and his family moved to Kincolith, a Nisga'a
Nisga'a
The Nisga’a , often formerly spelled Nishga and spelled in the Nisga’a language as Nisga’a, are an Indigenous nation or First Nation in Canada. They live in the Nass River valley of northwestern British Columbia. Their name comes from a combination of two Nisga’a words: Nisk’-"top lip" and...
village on the Nass River
Nass River
The Nass River is a river in northern British Columbia, Canada. It flows from the Coast Mountains southwest to Nass Bay, a sidewater of Portland Inlet, which connects to the North Pacific Ocean via the Dixon Entrance...
in northern B.C., founded as an Anglican mission by the medical missionary Robert Tomlinson
Robert Tomlinson
Robert Tomlinson was an Irish medical missionary for the Church of England, known for his work with the indigenous peoples of British Columbia....
. Collison remained there until his death on January 23, 1922.
Collison is best remembered for his vivid 1915 memoir In the Wake of the War Canoe, which contains numerous ethnological insights, including information on the nearly extinct Tsetsaut people, remnants of whom lived at Kincolith.