George Abbott: Lessons to Be Learned from British Columbia's Colonial Past
The recent controversies surrounding agreements between Canada and the Musqueam Nation serve as a stark reminder of the enduring lessons from our colonial history. According to George Abbott, author of Unceded: Understanding British Columbia's Colonial Past and Why It Matters Now, honor, respect, and good faith were notably absent in the conduct of Indigenous relations by late-colonial and post-confederation governments in B.C.
The Musqueam at the Center of 1874 Disputes
In 1874, the Musqueam Nation found itself front-and-center as Canada tested the commitment of its newest province, British Columbia, to honor an apparent agreement to expand Indigenous reserves. This period marked a critical juncture where Canada was forced to beg and cajole B.C. for even modest additions to reserves, a stark contrast to other regions like Alberta and Saskatchewan, where treaties and more generous reserves were negotiated before provincehood.
One year earlier, in 1873, B.C. had emphatically rejected Canada's proposal for reserves comprised of 80 acres per family, deeming it far too generous. Instead, the province suggested a compromise of 20 acres per family. However, ambiguity remained: would this suggestion apply to both new and existing reserves?
The 1874 Survey and Provincial Resistance
On July 31, 1874, Canada's Indian commissioner, Israel Powell, informed B.C. Lands Minister Robert Beaven that a survey crew was ready to proceed at the Musqueam reserve. Based on a survey of area and population, Powell noted that an additional 1,197 acres from adjacent public lands would be required to meet the 20-acre benchmark for the Musqueam.
Beaven was clearly perturbed by this request. He questioned how Powell ascertained the actual number of families, to which Powell replied straightforwardly, "by counting." This direct answer was met with further obfuscation from the province. Beaven argued that B.C. "should know who supplied the information, whether it was taken under oath or how, and whether any penalty can be imposed for making a false return."
Confederation's Complicated Legacy
The remarkable confidence that B.C. enjoyed regarding Indigenous population numbers while reducing reserve sizes in the pre-Confederation period entirely evaporated after the "agreement" with Canada to expand reserves. It is important to note that settler population pressure wasn't a significant factor at this time. As of 1874, Vancouver was still 12 years away from incorporation, comprising only a small fraction of New Westminster's town and district population of 1,656.
Powell's hopes for reserve expansion were officially dashed a few weeks later. The B.C. cabinet claimed that their agreement with Canada "was not intended to affect or unsettle reservations already established." In essence, any reserve created—or more precisely, created then subsequently reduced by colonial governments—before Confederation with Canada wouldn't be adjusted based on the 20-acre benchmark. This meant reserves averaging just a few acres or less per family would continue without any prospect of upward adjustment.
A Recipe for Discord and Division
The Musqueam reserve dispute between Canada and B.C. was symptomatic of chronic problems that would persist. Confederation in 1871 made Canada responsible for "Indians and lands reserved for Indians," but left the province in control of Crown lands from which reserves would be expanded or created. This division of responsibilities created a recipe for discord and division, unlike in Alberta and Saskatchewan, where more cooperative approaches were taken.
Abbott's analysis underscores how Canada was obliged to beg and cajole tight-fisted B.C. governments for even modest additions to reserves, highlighting a colonial past marked by a lack of good faith and respect in Indigenous relations. These historical lessons remain relevant today as we continue to grapple with the legacy of these policies and their impact on Indigenous communities.
