Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch from London
Carnarvon, Earl to Douglas, James 11 April 1859, LAC RG7:G8C/7, 231.
Abstract
Despatch from London.
This document contains mentions of Indigenous Peoples. The authors of these documents
often perpetuate a negative perspective of Indigenous Peoples and it is important
to look critically at these mentions. They sometimes use terminology that is now considered
hurtful and offensive. To learn more about modern terminology pertaining to Indigenous
Peoples, Indigenous ways of knowing, and decolonization, please refer to the Glossary of terms.
Carnarvon is pleased that Douglas addressed, at the House of Assembly, settler relations with First Nations . He strongly
advises that
measures of liberality and justicebe taken during the
surrenderof the land that First Nations
regard as their own.He also encourages the establishment of
Schools of an industrial as well as an educational character for the Indians.
See V597049 for a letterbook copy of this document.
No. 49
Downing Street
11 April 1859
Sir,
I have to acknowledge the receipt of your
[Vancouver Island] despatch of the 9th of
February No 4 transmitting copies of communications which have
passed between you and the House of Assembly of Vancouver's Island
between the 23d August and the 5th February last.
between the 23d August and the 5th February last.
I am glad to perceive that you have directed the attention of the
House to that interesting and important subject the relations of Her
Majesty's Government and of the Colony to the Indian race. Proofs are
unhappily still too frequent of the neglect which Indians experience
when the White man obtains possession of their Country and their claims
to consideration areforgotten
forgotten at the moment when equity most demands
that the hand of the protector should be extended to help them. In the
case of the Indians of Vancouvers Island and British Columbia Her
Majesty's Government earnestly wish that when the advancing requirements
of Colonization press upon Lands occupied by Members of that race
measures of liberality and justice may be adopted for compensating them
for the surrender of the territorywhich
which they have been taught to regard
as their own. Especially I would enjoin upon you, and all in authority
in both Colonies, the importance of establishing Schools of an
industrial as well as an educational character for the Indians, whereby
they may acquire the arts of civilized life which will enable them to
support themselves, and not degenerate into the mere recipients of
eleemosynary relief. It is to be hoped that bysuch
such and other means,
which your experience will enable you to devise, the Indians may in
these, the most recent of the British Settlements, be treated in a
manner worthy the beneficent rule of Our Gracious Sovereign.
forgotten at the moment when equity most demands
that the hand of the protector should be extended to help them. In the
case of the Indians of Vancouvers Island and British Columbia Her
Majesty's Government earnestly wish that when the advancing requirements
of Colonization press upon Lands occupied by Members of that race
measures of liberality and justice may be adopted for compensating them
for the surrender of the territorywhich
which they have been taught to regard
as their own. Especially I would enjoin upon you, and all in authority
in both Colonies, the importance of establishing Schools of an
industrial as well as an educational character for the Indians, whereby
they may acquire the arts of civilized life which will enable them to
support themselves, and not degenerate into the mere recipients of
eleemosynary relief. It is to be hoped that bysuch
such and other means,
which your experience will enable you to devise, the Indians may in
these, the most recent of the British Settlements, be treated in a
manner worthy the beneficent rule of Our Gracious Sovereign.
I have the honor to be
Sir
Your Most obedient
Humble Servant
Carnarvon
in the absence of
Sir E.B. Lytton
Sir
Your Most obedient
Humble Servant
Carnarvon
in the absence of
Sir E.B. Lytton