…The Cowichan Tribe of Indians was granted a hearing,when they
entered protest against the recent destruction of two of their fish
traps by federal and provincial fisheries’ officers. Chief Big Joe
of Cowichan,who was the principal speaker for the deputation,stated
that two weirs had been broken up by the fisheries’ officers on the
previous Saturday and Sunday,although under an arrangement with the
Department,the Indians were permitted to take fish with these weirs
five days in each week,keeping the gates open on Saturday’s and Sunday’s,
an arrangement, the existence of which was confirmed by Indian
Agent Robertson. The Deputation would like to know what to do in the
future. When the officers came,the trap had been open from the Saturday
morning – The Indians had received no notice to remove the traps.
Samson Tsouhalem said that he had seen the officers who destroyed
the weir. They had come on the Saturday night. On the Sunday he had
seen the officer breaking up the trap and had told him to leave it
alone. The officer had a butcher’s axe and in reply told him to shut
up or he would hit him with the axe. He had asked the officer who
gave him the authority to break up the trap –
Meeting with Sanich Band on Tsartlip Reserve, June 1913
MEETING WITH THE SAANICH BAND OF INDIANS ON THEIR TSARTLIP RESERVE
ON THE 13TH. DAY OF JUNE, 1913
1913 Cowichan River: Salmon Spearing at Tsohelim Mountain by Henipsum Village.
Commission landing at Penelakut - 1913
Father Scheelen has informed me that they have reference to the timber lands on
Reserve, and that the complaint is, that they have no right to
clear the land for settlement purposes, and that they have no
right to take timber for saw-logs.
Chairman on Cowichan Bands from Hearing in Duncan, 1913
THE CHAIRMAN:The Indians have special privileges with regard to
fishing, have they not?
A.None, except with regard to weirs.
Q.It was stated that they had the privilege of fishing for food
with a net?
A.Yes that is with a permit, but the permit is of no use to
them, as they are restricted as to the location in which they
shall fish, and also as to the size of the net.
-Examination of W.R. Robertson, Indian Agent, 1913
Inspector Ditchburn contended that to reduce any of the Reserves of the Cowichan Agency today would have the same effect as that so strongly commented upon and deprecated by the late Commissioner Sproatt. It would discourage the Indian in all his industrial efforts, paralyze his progressive activities and prove a most serious set-back to the Department in its efforts to improve the standard of Indian life in British Columbia. Argument by Ditchburn, Evidence Hearings 1913
DR. MCKENNA: You people know that there has always been a question
as to your “title” to the land. The Dominion Government
claimed to hold the land for you, but the
Provincial Government claimed to have an interest in
it, and it was claimed that when an Indian was not
using his land, or had abandoned it, the land should
become public land. Now an Agreement was made
between the two Governments to settle that difficulty
and for the purpose of carrying out the Agreement,
this Commission was appointed.