Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Douglas, James to Pelham-Clinton, Henry Pelham Fiennes 18 February 1860, CO 60:7, no. 3622, 121.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (2), Enclosures (untranscribed) (3), Other documents (1), Marginalia (1).
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.
Douglas requests that he be allowed to support Duncan's plan to create
a Missionary settlement for Indian convertsnear Fort Simpson by
[reserving] several hundred acres of land in that neighbourhood.
No. 25, Civil
The desire manifested on the part of Her Majesty's Government
for the improvement and well being of the aboriginal races of
British Columbia, induces me to lay before Your Grace the enclosed
interesting correspondence between the Reverend Edward
Cridge
Cridge,
District Minister of Victoria,
and Mr William Duncan, an
exemplary and truly worthy gentleman, who has, for some years
past, been devotedly labouring with a wonderful degree of energy
and perseverance as a Christian Missionary among the Indian
population, at, and about Fort Simpson.
Cridge,
District Minister of Victoria,
and Mr William Duncan, an
exemplary and truly worthy gentleman, who has, for some years
past, been devotedly labouring with a wonderful degree of energy
and perseverance as a Christian Missionary among the Indian
population, at, and about Fort Simpson.
2. The facility with which Mr Duncan has acquired the Native
language, and succeeded in winning the confidence and attachment
of the Natives, is a proof of the good sense, kindness of heart,
and talent which he has brought to the task; while the very
marked success of his efforts as a religious Teacher
gives
gives rise
to the gratifying hope that the Natives will yet, through God's
blessing, be rescued from ignorance, and assume a respectable
position in British Columbia.
gives rise
to the gratifying hope that the Natives will yet, through God's
blessing, be rescued from ignorance, and assume a respectable
position in British Columbia.
3. Mr Duncan proposes to found a Missionary settlement for
Indian converts in an eligible situation, about twenty miles south
of Fort Simpson, (probably Port Essington), a plan which meets
with my entire approval.
4. I therefore, with Your Grace's sanction, intend to reserve
several hundred acres of land in that neighbourhood, to enable
Mr Duncan to carry this useful and benevolent plan into effect.
By the Imperial Act of 1842—called the Land Sales Act—I think it
is permitted to reserve Land for the use of the Aborigines of a Colony.
5. I
5. I would submit with respect to all land reserved for Indians, the advisability
of withholding from them the power to
sell or otherwise alienate the Title, as they are yet so ignorant
and improvident that they cannot safely be trusted with the
management or control of landed estate, which, if fully conveyed
to them, would soon pass into other hands.
5. I would submit with respect to all land reserved for Indians, the advisability
of withholding from them the power to
sell or otherwise alienate the Title, as they are yet so ignorant
and improvident that they cannot safely be trusted with the
management or control of landed estate, which, if fully conveyed
to them, would soon pass into other hands.
6. I would therefore recommend as a safe and preferable
course, that such reserves of land should be conveyed to the
Governor of the Colony for the time being, in trust for the use
and benefit of the Indians,
leaving
leaving no power whatever in them to
sell or alienate the estate.
leaving no power whatever in them to
sell or alienate the estate.
7. Should those measures meet with Your Grace's approval, I
have to request the sanction of Her Majesty's Government for
carrying them into effect.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Elliot
It will be a bright feature in British Colonization, and an example to the United States, if we can succeed in converting to Christianity and introducing to civilization the native Inhabitants, or any portion of them, of British Columbia. To grant a reserve of Land, as a missionary settlement for Converts seems to me a very proper & justifiable proceeding, and as this Office has inculcated upon the Govr that he shd take good care of the Indians we can scarcely withhold a practical illustration of the reality of our intentions. But
refer to
the Land Board for any observations.
It will be a bright feature in British Colonization, and an example to the United States, if we can succeed in converting to Christianity and introducing to civilization the native Inhabitants, or any portion of them, of British Columbia. To grant a reserve of Land, as a missionary settlement for Converts seems to me a very proper & justifiable proceeding, and as this Office has inculcated upon the Govr that he shd take good care of the Indians we can scarcely withhold a practical illustration of the reality of our intentions. But
refer to
the Land Board for any observations.
ABd
12 April
The motive of the proposal is of course excellent, but I
fear that both in British North America and also in Australia,
where the same plan was tried to a smaller extent, the making
of land reserves for the good of the Aborigines has proved far
from successful. Refer however to the Land Board?
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Reverend Cridge to Douglas, 18 February 1860, forwarding copy
of a letter from W. Duncan, with reference to his previous letter
as noted below.
Cridge to Duncan, January 1860, advising that Douglas had expressed an interest in his ministry at Fort Simpson and had asked to be kept informed of his progress, which includes any suggestions
for
improvements for Indigenous peoples there.
Other documents included in the file
Draft reply, Newcastle to Douglas, No. 27, 25 May 1860,
approving his plan to
reserve several hundred acres of land in the neighbourhood of Fort Simpsonfor the Christian First Nations settlement proposed by Duncan.