Origins
The Groups of the Northwest Coast have different stories about how their land was created.The Haida have a story about how the Queen Charlotte Islands or Haida Gwaii were created. Visit the following link to read it: http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/settlement/kids/021013-2061.2-e.html
Here is a timeline conataining the history of the people of the Northwest Coast
7500 B.C.E- People migrate to the islands and coastal strip of present day B.C. Live as Hunter gatherers.
6000 B.C.E- The people are acclomplished carvers. They use stone tools to make canoes and large houses of wood.
1000 B.C.E- Cultural pattern flourishing.
1000-2000 C.E-Heavy wood working tools made from bone developed.Trees cut forhouses and canoes Large ocean faring canoes created. Complex social structer developed.
1300s- 60 to 70 thousand people living in the area.
1741- First European contact.
1778-Prolonged contact begins. Europeans trade for fur pelts.
Late 1700s to Early 1800s- European Posts are established. Europeans bring Alchohol, adds to native problems.
1832 to 1835- 96% of lower chinook dies due to small pox.
1850s-Fur trade dies out. Many Native people also die due to infectous diseases. Entire villages wiped out. Gold discovery in 1857 brings many miners and settlers. Goverments increase control over natives and conflict escalates. James Douglas makes small trearies with Vancouver Island natives.
1871-British Columbia enters confederation. Native Titles abondoned.
1862-Worst smallpox epidemic for Haida people.
1884-Native Act passed. Reserves created. Potlatches outlawed, leads to protests.
1885- Hudson Bay Company cencus: about 800 Haida left.
1915- Allied Tribes of British Columbia formed. 588 Haida left.
1931- Native Brothehood of British Columbia formed.
1960's- Unemployment is rampant.
1976-Treaty Negotiantions between Canada and Nisga'a begin.
1990-B.C joins negotiations.
1993-B.C treaty commision appointed to facilitate negotiations.
1996-Most coastal tribes have filed Statement of Intent to negotiate treaties.
7500 B.C.E- People migrate to the islands and coastal strip of present day B.C. Live as Hunter gatherers.
6000 B.C.E- The people are acclomplished carvers. They use stone tools to make canoes and large houses of wood.
1000 B.C.E- Cultural pattern flourishing.
1000-2000 C.E-Heavy wood working tools made from bone developed.Trees cut forhouses and canoes Large ocean faring canoes created. Complex social structer developed.
1300s- 60 to 70 thousand people living in the area.
1741- First European contact.
1778-Prolonged contact begins. Europeans trade for fur pelts.
Late 1700s to Early 1800s- European Posts are established. Europeans bring Alchohol, adds to native problems.
1832 to 1835- 96% of lower chinook dies due to small pox.
1850s-Fur trade dies out. Many Native people also die due to infectous diseases. Entire villages wiped out. Gold discovery in 1857 brings many miners and settlers. Goverments increase control over natives and conflict escalates. James Douglas makes small trearies with Vancouver Island natives.
1871-British Columbia enters confederation. Native Titles abondoned.
1862-Worst smallpox epidemic for Haida people.
1884-Native Act passed. Reserves created. Potlatches outlawed, leads to protests.
1885- Hudson Bay Company cencus: about 800 Haida left.
1915- Allied Tribes of British Columbia formed. 588 Haida left.
1931- Native Brothehood of British Columbia formed.
1960's- Unemployment is rampant.
1976-Treaty Negotiantions between Canada and Nisga'a begin.
1990-B.C joins negotiations.
1993-B.C treaty commision appointed to facilitate negotiations.
1996-Most coastal tribes have filed Statement of Intent to negotiate treaties.
Now
The Tlingit do not live in reservations they are shareholders in their own corporation SeaAlaska The ANCSA (Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act) has given the Tlingit $967 million and 44 million acres for any other lands. There are about 4 000 Haida living now. More than 40% of natives live off reserves. Potlatches are now legal.