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an time to come. :■••■•• , - . ..‘‘Gentlemen, believe me when I say that we ourselves are the originators and promoters of this just movement.; v It has come to our ears that your government held responsible-the Friends of the Indians for inciting us. Gentlemen,■'; thisis ; ridiculous; the F riends of the i Indian s were o rgan -Sized only last year, but our complaifit has been in existence ^Joi^’byer;twenty years.-i/In 1887 the Naas River and Port Simpson tribes laid their complaint before the government1 of this province. In ’1901 the Cowichan tribe petitioned the Dominion gov-. crnment. In -1906 three chiefs went to England and interviewed His Majesty, the late King Edward, and later a number of .chiefs went to Ottawa to appeal to the federal government to have their wrongs righted, so you see this movement is not a new one. \; “In conclusion, gentlemen, let me respectfully request you to give this great question your most careful consideration, and pray for an early reply.” * ...•Mr. J. A. Teit. of the Columbian Institute of Anthropology, of.NewYork, acted as interpreter for the next chief. Chief John Chilheetsa, of Douglas Lake, spoke through the medium of the interpreter. He said:•', ‘Great White Chief, I * come here as representing all these people. I wish to -speak to you. I wish to hear you as to. whether, this country belongs to; you and your government or to the Indians.%1 came here specially to hear that question answered. If you claim it is your country, then we are of opposite opinions, and I am opposed to that view. The Indians say that it is their coun- : try, and if you claim it theywant to go to some big court house and have the matter settled.”Sub-Chief George. Quakatston, of the Cowichans, then spoke. hrough the medium of the Rev. Mr. Tate as .interpreter he said:God, knows that I do not come here with a lie in my mouth or in my heart to deceive you. I crv today becauseJ am overcome by .the white people coming; into our country. We have been trying to learn the ways of the white .men and raise* cattle and horses, but when we turn, our cat tie. out. to grazealbng the-roadsides they are put in thc^ pound by the whites. My name is written here in this country because God has placed me here, and in'doing so .He put lands; here for me to stay bnJ I just want to get one word from .the government as to?Avhether it thinks we own any;- lands or? not”I*9 the delegates the Premier addressed themvr a/r?eries se^el?ces which were interpreted by Rev.He explained how the government was glad to AS®; so Hiany; of the Indian chiefs * assembled in Victoria, which was the capital of the province and theiseat of the • local government, and how, as one born in the .province, it was an added pleasure -to himself to meet them; He ex-*rplamed how the matter* had been brought• to the attention * Ah®* 8°yernmerit a few months previously by,- some ' gehtlemeta of the province, and how, when it was so'1 ; brought,-at had recdyed/ the careful attention of himself 1 : ;hjs ministers..; • The conclusion; was reached,’’however, VAb3t* the Indians had no title; to; the unsurrendered lands, ] -and as a consequence the government would not-take; the ’ 1 question to the courts, feeling that there was no proper question, for submission.•. He concluded .that the. present' jgathering, which was so well arid ably represented; by Mr lt;Kelly, came to, find out if the question would be given i reconsideration, v With his colleagues he had listened with ■?lt; hiarked;‘interest' ;to the eloquent appeal which’Mr. Kelly ; had -made, but .they '.did not now feci that 'a change of judgment could -'be; made. The - Indians had been given r large reserves. He explained how 'thesystein of reserves I iwas introduced1 in, Grqlwn Colony daysVand how the admin- s isttiatiofi ; was;, ultimately/ vested in'the. Dominion authori- a M^^®“ith»sv,conditiqn. had existed;since; the. summer; bf?ii 'IwlpnMW of^S^serves.were' larger' than the Indians? li needed; as much of the land remained unoccupied; still, r
Newspaper Details
Vancouver BC Saturday Sunset
Vancouver, British Columbia, CA
Sat, Apr 15, 1911
Page 26
Full Page
Clipped by
Richa B.
CA 26 Dec 2023
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