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On July 23rd, 2023, a majority of the adult males and the designated ’chiefs’ of several Squamish "Indian Bands’ signed a petition to the Federal government requesting all of the signed ’bands’ be amalgamated into a single ’Indian Band’ called the Squamish Nation.
As per Mathias v. Canada (2001), "Amalgamation was initiated and pursued by the Squamish People through a series of petitions and resolutions directed to the Department in the period from 1913 to 1923." ...
"Before 1923, the Department administered the individual reserves of the Squamish "tribe" separately for the benefit of a number of Squamish "bands", composed of those Squamish Indians who were considered to be resident on and interested in the particular reserve in question."...
"Amalgamation involved a change from the administration of separate reserves for separate bands to a unified administration of all the reserves and bank accounts of the Squamish "tribe" for the equal benefit of all the Squamish People." ...
"As well, after Amalgamation, all the separate bands of the Squamish "tribe" (except the Burrard Band) became one band under the Indian Act. The new amalgamated band was called the "Squamish Band" and was led by a council of Squamish chiefs."
Further in the decision, the Federal Court acknowledged:
"There were three significant factors which pushed the bands of the Squamish "tribe" towards Amalgamation in 1923."
"There were three significant factors which pushed the bands of the Squamish "tribe" towards Amalgamation in 1923."
"They were:
(1) the influence of Squamish leader Andrew Paull and an organization called the Allied Indian Tribes of British Columbia (the "Allied Tribes"),
(2) expectations of revenue from the sale of reserves in Burrard Inlet, and ..."
(1) the influence of Squamish leader Andrew Paull and an organization called the Allied Indian Tribes of British Columbia (the "Allied Tribes"),
(2) expectations of revenue from the sale of reserves in Burrard Inlet, and ..."
"(3) the growing belief that the proceeds from past sales and leases of reserve lands had been inequitably distributed."
"In the early 1900s, Vancouver's political and business leaders began to advocate the surrender and sale of the False Creek Reserve and the other Indian reserves around Burrard Inlet."
"One justification for this demand was the view that it was undesirable to maintain Indian reserves in an urban environment. Another justification was the fact that the reserves were in locations which had become desirable for industrial and residential development."
"The Province agreed with the need to remove urban reserves & played an aggressive role in two of the major reserve acquisitions in BC prior to 1923,..."
"...namely the purchase of the Songhees reserve (in what is now downtown Victoria) in 1911, and the purchase of the False Creek Reserve in the 1913 Sale."
"Officials of the Department appeared to accept that Vancouver's urban reserves would have to be sold. As early as 1912, Inspector Ditchburn wrote Indian Agent Peter Byrne and said that:"
"It is very probable that this86 and other Indian reserves in the proximity of Vancouver will in the near future have to be surrendered... (CB682)."
The first earnest meeting on amalgamation was April of 1922, then again on December 24 and 31, 1922, January 4th, 2023, January 10, 1923, and January 24, 1923.
"Then, several months later, on July 17, 1923, a final meeting about amalgamation was held on the Mission reserve..."
"Then, several months later, on July 17, 1923, a final meeting about amalgamation was held on the Mission reserve..."
Then on July 23rd, 1923, Indian Affairs Superintendant Dr. Duncan C. Scott approved the petition for amalgamation which was signed by 16 Squamish chiefs and 72 other Squamish Indians.
The petition read:
The petition read:
See the full text here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Hrs8M3DXDwFapEpar-u4CnTicym__6-p6USdL9ymf1Q/edit?usp=sharing
The amalgamation in 1923 was one of the most significant moments in the history of the region.
It was the uniting of the Squamish People that have significantly contributed to the wellbeing, success, and growth of our people collectively and individually.
It was the uniting of the Squamish People that have significantly contributed to the wellbeing, success, and growth of our people collectively and individually.
Forever and eternally grateful to my Sḵwx̱wú7mesh ancestors for the foresight, vision, determination, and compassion to think about people 97 years later wh benefit from their desire to unite, provide, and protect their legacy.
Happy Amalgamation Day to all! #SquamishNation #Sḵwx̱wú7mesh
You can read the entire Mathias vs. Canada decision here:
https://www.canlii.org/en/ca/fct/doc/2000/2000canlii16282/2000canlii16282.html?searchUrlHash=AAAAAQAcS2l0c2lsYW5vIFJlc2VydmUgTGl0aWdhdGlvbgAAAAAB&resultIndex=8#para529
This was the Court decision and subsequent settlement that allowed for the repatriation of the Sen̓áḵw reserve lands to the Squamish Nation.
https://www.canlii.org/en/ca/fct/doc/2000/2000canlii16282/2000canlii16282.html?searchUrlHash=AAAAAQAcS2l0c2lsYW5vIFJlc2VydmUgTGl0aWdhdGlvbgAAAAAB&resultIndex=8#para529
This was the Court decision and subsequent settlement that allowed for the repatriation of the Sen̓áḵw reserve lands to the Squamish Nation.
TYPOS: 2023 should mean 1923 in a few places. When is Twitter bringing in that edit button? Haha.
