|
Date
|
|
The Early History
and Colonial Periods
Event
|
| Pre-1797 |
Musqueam people used and occupied
their traditional territory for several thousand years.
|
| 1791 |
Narvaez explores Gulf
of Georgia under Commander Eliaz for the Spanish.
|
| 1792 |
Spanish and British
ships – under Captain George Vancouver – enter Burrard
Inlet.
|
1808
|
Simon Fraser at Musqueam
village. Records it as ‘Misqiame’.
|
1827
|
Hudson’s Bay Company Fort
established at Fort Langley. First reference made in Fort Langley
Journal to Musqueam trading fish and furs.
|
| 1859 |
Indian villages and
Indian “huts” identified at other locations including
Jericho; at Terra Nova on the North West coast of Lulu Island; on
Sea Island across from Terra Nova; and on Sea Island near the North
Arm of the Fraser across from the Musqueam village.
|
| 1870 |
Musqueam Reserve (IR)
#2 surveyed.
|
| 1871-99 |
CONFEDERATION
|
| 1874 |
Ottawa offers reserves
80 acres a family. BC refuses. Musqueam Reserve is too small an
allotment. Does not meet 20 acres per family standard. Request to
enlarge reserve is declined. Only new reserves are subject to 20-acres/head
grant.
|
| 1876 |
1) Order-in-Council
established Indian Reserve Commission. 2) The Indian Act is introduced,
followed by the establishment of the Department of Indian Affairs.
3) Musqueam Reserve confirmed by Commission, but not adequate in
size or meeting government standards. 4) Report from Indian Reserve
Commission: Muskweam reserve may be considerably increased by the
reclamation of land from the sea.
|
| 1876 |
Musqueam Reserve (IR)
#2 is confirmed and (IR) #3 is allotted.
|
| 1879 |
Musqueam Reserve (IR)
#1 opposite New Westminster is confirmed. An addition of 60 acres
to extend the Northern boundary of (IR) #2 is added and (IR) #2
is confirmed. Lots 8 & 9 Sea Island (IR) #3 allotted in 1876
is confirmed.
|
| 1888 |
Legislation first passed
to limit fishing by Indian people. Fishing was and is the main economic
activity of the Musqueam. Fishery Regulations – food fishing
allowed but no sales or barter.
|
| |
Twentieth Century
|
| 1976 |
Musqueam Declaration
(June 10) is adopted and signed: We the Musqueam People openly and
publicly affirm that we hold aboriginal title…”
|
| 1977 |
1) “XwMuzkWi’um:
Musqueam Aboriginal Rights to the University Endowment Land,”
published by the Musqueam Indian Band. 2) Provincial report on the
future of UEL does not acknowledge Musqueam claim. 3) Presentation
of Musqueam Declaration to Minister of Indian Affairs Warren Allmand.
|
| 1984 |
Musqueam Comprehensive
Land Claim resubmitted, under revised federal policy. Government
will not accept it for negotiations, due to extent of third party
interests.
|
| |
Musqueam’s
Guerin Case establishes Federal Government has fiduciary duty to
Indians. Supreme Court of Canada also reaffirms that aboriginal
interest in the land in BC is a “pre-existing legal right”
derived from aboriginal practice and not from any British or Canadian
action. In other words, the federal government must protect the
interests of the aboriginal people, and aboriginal rights that existed
before Canada became a country.
|
| 1987 |
1) Musqueam becomes
aware of new plan to develop UEL for housing and a GVRD Park. Applies
to court for injunction to prevent conveyance of lands and interference
with aboriginal rights and title. 2) Injunction denied. Court suggests
Musqueam be given timely notice of decisions to transfer land. Musqueam
given permission to appeal.
|
| 1988 |
BC government announces
its intention to transfer UEL to the Greater Vancouver Regional
District for future park development, without advance notice to
Musqueam. Federal Government reviewing Musqueam Land Claim.
|
| 1989 |
1)Feb.: BC Court of Appeal grants
conditional restraining order to prevent conveyance of UEL to
GVRD until appeal is heard.
2) April: GVRD agrees to accept
the UEL from Province on condition that transfer is without prejudice
to any claim the Musqueam may have. Restraining order is lifted.
Province does not agree with this condition.
3) Province of BC and GVRD proceed
to transfer UEL title, subject to conditions imposed by BC Court
of Appeal decision and without prejudice to Musqueam Band’s
claims to UEL.
|
| 1990 |
Musqueam’s Sparrow
decision, Supreme Court of Canada, restates recognition of the aboriginal
rights to land as traditional “British policy” in Canada,
and was the first ruling of SCOC interpreting section 35 of the
Constitution Act, 1982 as providing “a strong measure of protection
“ for aboriginal rights. It also ruled that aboriginal and
treaty rights are capable of evolving over time and must be interpreted
in a generous, liberal manner.
|
| 1993 |
1) Dec. 15: Musqueam
submission of Statement of Intent to BC Treaty Commission (BCTC).
2) Dec. 22: Musqueam Statement of Intent accepted by BCTC.
|
| 1994 |
1) Jan.: Musqueam Chief
& Council, and Administration, designate the Musqueam Treaty
Core Task Group to begin discussions on treaty issues and negotiations.
2) Feb. 17: First tripartite meeting with the Treaty Commission
is held at the Musqueam Elders Centre.
|
| 1995 |
March 21: BCTC declares Musqueam
ready to enter stage 3 Negotiations of a Framework agreement.
1) June 6: BCTC declares Canada
ready to enter stage 3 negotiations with Musqueam. 2) June 21:
BC submits readiness report to BCTC. 3) June 28: BCTC declared
Musqueam Table ready to begin negotiations.
July 4: Tripartite Senior Negotiators
Meeting, Musqueam Elders Centre.
Sept. 19: Musqueam Chief and Council
meet with Vancouver Mayor and Councillors to discuss the agreement
signed by the Province and municipalities related to treaty negations.
Nov. 17: Tripartite Senior Negotiators
Meeting, Musqueam Elders Centre.
|
| 1996 |
April 18: 1) Open House, Musqueam
Treaty Office, for Musqueam Community. 2) Family Group Dinner.
May 8: Open House, Musqueam Treaty
Office, for Musqueam leaseholders.
|
| |
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