1860-1876
1860
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Governor Douglas issues statement on behalf of the Crown recognizing Indian right on the land. Douglas was a firm supporter of Aboriginal rights and title.
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1861
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Chief Commissioner of Lands, Colonel R.G. Moody is instructed to establish Indian reserves throughout the Colony “to be defined as they may be severally pointed out by the Indians themselves”.
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1862
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Smallpox reached the Secwepemc, at least 1/3 had perished; 13 out of 30 villages became extinct.
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1862
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Governor Douglas establishes the Neskonlith Douglas reserve which consists of over 1 million acres
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1864
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Joseph Trutch was appointed Chief Commissioner of Lands and Works for British Columbia and later became responsible for Indian Affairs.
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1865
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Settlers complain that Indians are not utilizing land and Trutch begins mission to reduce reserves.
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1865
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Settlers take land from Secwepemc
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1866
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Secwepemc were forcing settlers and their cattle from their Douglas reserve They refused anyone to cut trees on their land, burned grasslands to deny the settlers pasturage, and blocked miners from reaching the Upper Adams River.
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1867
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The first church was established (St. Joseph’s) in Kamloops. BC.
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1870
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BC Land Ordinance is passed giving powers to the provincial Commissioner of Lands and Works and makes no mention of Indian title.
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1870’s
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Most of the best agricultural land between Kamloops and Upper Shuswap Lake is taken for settlement
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1871
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Some southern Secwepemc reserves were established
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1871
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BC enters Confederation. The Terms of Union are established. The federal government assumes responsibility for Indian and BC will continue to exercise as liberal an Indian policy after the Union as it did before.
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1871
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CPR survey of the Interior.
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1874
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The Province passed a new land act consolidating all previous ones. The federal government would not approve the legislation because it made no provision for the establishment and protection of Indian lands.
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1875-86
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Establishment of Indian reserves.
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1876
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The first Indian Act is passed.
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