<persName ref="prs:douglas_j"><surname>Douglas</surname>, <forename>James</forename></persName> to <persName ref="prs:newcastle"><surname>Pelham-Clinton</surname>, <forename>Henry</forename> <forename>Pelham</forename> <forename>Fiennes</forename></persName> 18 February 1860, CO 60:7, no. 3622, 121. Douglas addressee Newcastle

Published by Jim Hendrickson and the University of Victoria.

Douglas, James to Pelham-Clinton, Henry Pelham Fiennes 18 February 1860, CO 60:7, no. 3622, 121.The Colonial Despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871, Edition 2.6, ed. James Hendrickson and the Colonial Despatches project. Victoria, B.C.: University of Victoria. https://bcgenesis.uvic.ca/B60025.html. CO 60:07 CO 60 7 3622 121 25 Civil B.C. 1860 received 12 April co_60_07_00122r.jpg Transcribed from microfilm archives, marked up in Waterloo Script, then transformed into TEI P5 XML.

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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 converts near Fort Simpson by [reserving] several hundred acres of land in that neighbourhood.

Douglas, James
Victoria, Vancouvers Island
Pelham-Clinton, Henry Pelham Fiennes Inserted revisionDesc. added, edited, or reviewed abstract
No. 25, Civil 3622, CO 60/7, p. 121; received 12 April
Victoria, Vancouvers Island
18 February 1860 My Lord Duke

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.

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.

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. *

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.

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.

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.

I have etc. James Douglas
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 GovrGovernor that he shdshould 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? TFE 18 April CF 19 N 20
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.
Duncan to Cridge, 7 February 1860, reporting on the progress of his missionary work for the information of Douglas, and requesting that a reserve be created where better disposed Indians could be [separated] from the rest.
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 Simpson for the Christian First Nations settlement proposed by Duncan.
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. ABd