Esquimalt (Canadian) Naval Base is there to keep the First Nations at bay, eh

Relating to the withdrawal of Her Majesty's Ships from British Columbian waters


Order In Council

The Committee of Council have had under consideration the subject of the probable condition of the Province, in view of the facts that H.M.S. Rocket (1883) has sailed for England; that H.M.S. Kingfisher has been ordered South, and that H.M.S. Comus will shortly sail from Esquimalt; and of the report that in future no ship of Her Majesty's Navy will be permanently stationed in British Columbian waters.

The Indian population of the Province, exceeding by at least ten thousand that of any other Province in the Dominion, is largely resident, in scattered groups, along the coast line, and the presence of Her Majesty's ships had not been readily obtainable.  In early days the crews of vessels wrecked on the West Coast of Vancouver Island were not infrequently murdered by the natives, but experience has now taught the latter that deeds of violence will not go unpunished.

The comparative security obtained by the enforcement of law has encouraged the investment of capital in fisheries and other industrial pursuits, which have afforded remunerative employment to and so tended to civilize and improve the native races.  The physical power exhibited by a war vessel has an impressive moral effect on the native mind, and it is to be feared that the withdrawal of Her Majesty's ships from these waters would tend to disturb the peaceable attitude now maintained by the Indians.  By the Ninth Clause of the Terms of Union it was agreed that the influence of the Dominion Government would be used to secure the continued maintenance of the Naval Station at Esquimalt.

 

The Committee recommend that the attention of the Dominion Government be called to the above matters, and that they be requested to move the Imperial Government to cause vessels of war to be stationed at Esquimalt.  The Committee also recommend that a copy of this Minute be forwarded to the Secretary of State.

Certified.

By Command.
(Signed)   W. J. Armstrong
Provincial Secretary,
Clerk Executive Council

18th January, 1883

The 13th Clause of the Terms of Union is more interesting, eh.  Kinder Morgan take note ...

13. The charge of the Indians, and the trusteeship and management of the lands reserved for their use and benefit, shall be assumed by the Dominion Government and a policy as liberal as that hitherto pursued by the British Columbia Government shall be continued by the Dominion Government after the Union.

To carry out such policy, tracts of land of such extent as it has hitherto been the practice of the British Columbia Government to appropriate for that purpose, shall from time to time be conveyed by the Local Government to the Dominion Government in trust for the use and benefit of the Indians on application of the Dominion Government; and in case of disagreement between the two Governments respecting the quantity of such tracts of land to be so granted, the matter shall be referred for the decision of the Secretary of State for the Colonies.

Treatment of Hunter Jack, an Indian Chief, by Gaoler in Clinton, British Columbia in 1882 ....

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