Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
First Nations
After coming within a hair's breadth
of vanishing completely, due to the
illnesses to which they were exposed
through their contact with European
settlers in the late 19th century, the First
Nations of the West are now seeing a
substantial growth in their population.
In 1870, there were fewer than 80,000
Aboriginals in British Columbia. It has
since climbed back up to more than
196,000 (2006), accounting for about
4.8% of the province's total popula-
tion.
vices taxes. They also have the right
to free education from primary school
through university. Finally, health-re-
lated expenses such as eye exams,
glasses and dental care are paid by
the state. Until the 1950s, the
Indian
Act
also attempted to strip Aboriginal
people of their traditional culture, by
forbidding their languages, ceremonies
and rituals. Children were separated
from their families and sent to residen-
tial schools, where they were forced to
learn and speak only English and to
wear Western clothing, to the extent
that when the families were reunited,
the parents and the children could no
longer understand each other.
Though the Aboriginal population is
growing considerably, it would be in-
correct to speak of a real “renaissance,”
since a number of nations have van-
ished forever, taking their rites and
traditions along with them. Other com-
munities have become more visible,
but their future is still uncertain.
Since 1960, the Aboriginals of British
Columbia have been struggling to re-
vive their culture and traditions. The
Haida artists of the Queen Charlotte
Islands have become known around
the world for their carving, especially
totem poles and jewellery.
Two thirds of western Aboriginals live
on reserves. Some of these pieces of
land are the size of Switzerland, while
others aren't even as big as Manhattan.
A notable case in point is the Capilano
reserve in North Vancouver, which
barely covers three blocks and is com-
pletely surrounded by the city. The re-
serves were created by the
Indian Act
,
adopted in 1867 by the federal govern-
ment of Canada, and do not always
correspond to the traditional territory
of the various nations.
The only treaty signed in British
Columbia in modern times came into
effect in 2000, and not without contro-
versy. The Nisga'a Nation was awarded
2,000km
2
of land in the lower Nass
Valley, in northern British Columbia,
subsurface rights and powers of self-
government. In 2002, the Haida Nation
initiated a lawsuit in which they claim
title to Haida Gwaii, also known as the
Queen Charlotte Islands, an archipel-
ago they inhabit, along with non-na-
tives, off Prince Rupert, also in northern
Aboriginals living on reservations are
entitled to certain privileges. They pay
no income tax, nor any goods and ser-
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