1907 2006. 2008 2009 2010  The Block is transferred 1912 1914-1915 1916 1917-1919 1920’s –30’s 1930’s– 40’s 1947-48 1950 1957-1959 1960’s 1968 1970 1979 1981 1992 1998 2000 2004 2005 to the Dominion Government 1911  Economic Benefits Agreement signed in On April 19, the provincial government    Most members of the T8FN’s move in-   Western Coal’s Wolverine Mine opens Consultation Process Agreements Ministry of Energy, Mines and  Spanish Flu epidemics wipe out en-  A large number of white people seek  Recognizing wide spread poverty relat- The Department of Indian Affairs Three small replacement reserves are PGE Railway reaches the Peace River. W.A.C. Bennett Dam is completed.  The first television appears at Doig  Active Opposition to Site C by T8FN’s   AMOCO’s proposed gas exploration  Federal Government settles out fo Pipeline that carries oil from Taylor to Relentless Energy Corporation vs. Davis  Montney and forty –three members  The West Moberly reserve,  Reserve #172 (Montney) of Representatives of Denison Mines,  The Dominion government selects (CPA’s) established in December be- March between the provincial govern- Resources approved the exploration per- announced plan to move ahead with to escape the Great Depression by ed to the imposition of the registered transfers the Montney Reserve, in- established (#204, 205 & 206). The Bea- Travel is possible from Prince George to permanent housing. The traditional Williston is created by River reserve. Radio-telephone in- activity in the alpine area around court with BRFN and DRFN for 147 Kamloops breaks on the Pine River, et al. An oil and gas company brought an in in 2005, followed by of his Beaver band take Treaty for the which was once a summer camp for the 18,000 acres is created formally tire Indian communities and approxi- begins. Site C became the focus of a Teck Corporation, the Government of lands in the Peace River Block to be cluding “inadvertently” the minerals, ver of Fort St. John split and move to to Chetwynd to and round was modified with travel more flooding the territories of the Dane- interim injunction application against Peace River Coal’s Trend mine tween the Government of British ment and four T8FN’s—DRFN, PRFN, mit and associated clearing permits for the Site C project and advance it into Dane-zaa, was surveyed in 1914. In 1915, mately half of the population in the becoming trappers. Increased farm- trap line system, Indian Affairs negoti- stalled at Doig as a first aid measure major debate about he future of hy- BC and the Japanese steel industry Twin Sister the T8FN’s spiritual site million over Montney oil and gas which flows into the Peace River, 110km targeted for release in the first wave first time, and are combined with the for the Fort St. John band by an Columbia and selected First WMFN and FNFN. The agreement pro- First Coal Corporation’s mining explora- the regulatory review phase. ing in the Peace River valley and ates and purchases trap lines for the to the Director of the Veteran Land two of the reserves (Blueberry River Re- from Chetwynd to Fort St. John. from a base camp. zaa, Ingenika and Mesilinka in the for- by Medical Services. between the Upper Moberly and Car- upstream from Chetwynd. Approxi- member of Blueberry River Indian Band, existing Beaver Band of Fort St. Moberly had 41 First Nations people Order in Council, West Moberly Fort St. John area. Frank Beatton droelectricity in . BC signed an agreement that allowed the  BC Hydro with the support of the En- of settlement. The population was Act for transfer as farmland for re- serve and Reserve) mer Parsnip and valleys a beneficiary under Treaty No. 8. The ap- Nations. The CPA’s establish a con- vides for an initial equity payment of tion. In March, the BC Supreme Court rules in including the Brown, Desjarlais, Cryingman, Lake Reserve is also created buries hundreds of bodies in the Old throughout the Peace River region in- First Nations Hydro, the provincial utility, wished Northeast Coal Development to pro- bon River watersheds south of the mately 6,200 barrels of oil are spilled ergy Minister, Richard Neufeld, res- reported as 2000 and the goal was to turning war veterans. People are for- north of where they meet the Peace plication was rejected by the court, sultation framework between the $13.3 million and revenue-sharing pay- favor of the WMFN’s in its case against Mykoose, and Dokkie families Fort area of Fort St. John. Only 11 of creasingly alienates Dane-zaa from The reserves are about 40km apart and to fulfill the logic of the Peace River ceed, and in the space of three years, Williston reservoir, is openly opposed and becomes one of the most expensive urrects discussion on Site C as a pos- reach 20,000. “A steady stream of (168A) setting aside 5025 acres 1960 Government of British Columbia ments between $3.4 and $13.4 million 100 PRFN members living at Fish Lake their traditional seasonal rounds. bidden to return to this area, includ- no area was set up for summer gather- River. “In addition to flooding project and develop the next dame the town, infrastructure, and two by WMFN’s and other area First Na- inland oil spill cleanups in Canadian his- which state it is unreasonable for the sible new dam site, despite public the Minister of Energy, Mines and Petro- for the Hudson Hope Band 1999 settlers moved northerly and quickly ing 350,000 acres of forested land and Crown to always tell the First Nations to and individual Treaty 8 First Nations per year for 15 years. Revenue-sharing leum Resources over First Coal Corpora- survived the winter of 1918-1919, ing. 1957 1976 at Site C. Local interests reacted neg- mines were built from scratch in Tum- tion’s. The Project was first delayed tory. According to the Government of outcry dating back to the 1970’s took possession of the choicest prai-  First Nations are allowed to vote in related to industry applications sub- payments are linked to the level of activ- leaving the country “almost empty of drowning countless animals, the res- atively. Earlier projects had caused and later abandoned by AMOCO in  first Nations vs. BC. Al- British Columbia, SFN and WMFN’s envi- “go elsewhere” and never take into con- tion’s mining exploration impacts on the 1934 Federal Elections bler Ridge. rie lands.”  Fort St. John Lumber Company com-  mitted to the Oil and Gas Commis- ity from oil and gas, mining, and forestry people” ervoir blocked the east-west migra- Oil and gas discovered on the former considerable dislocation and hard- the face of continuing protests and an so known as the Metecheah case. ronmental impacts include mortality to sideration whether there was some- Burnt Pine Caribou Herd. This ruling was mences operations. The company lat-  Fort St. John natural gas fields are con- development in the Northeast region.  The Government of British Columbia  A second major influenza epidemic tion of the now endangered moun- Montney reserve The BC Supreme Court decided in fa- where to actually go with respect to ex- sion for approval of the oil and gas upheld in the May 2011, suspending ex- 1923 ship in the Peace River Valley, partic- unsuccessful well drilled in the shad- fish, insects and some wildlife. er became known as Canadian Forest nected through pipelines to the south- activities. requires the registration of trap lines , “wiped out many of the Indians” tain caribou across the Rocky Moun-  Families of the Fort St. John Beaver ularly for First Nations, and another ow of the Twin Sisters in the late vour of the HRFN, ruling that the de- ercising their hunting and trapping ploration pending consultation with the

 Peace River no longer considered to Products or Canfor ern markets and natural gas industry is cision by the Ministry of Forests to requiring payment for which many tain Trench”. Band were formally split into two sep- dam seemed too much to bear. 1990’s after First Nations court chal- rights. WMFN’s on how to protect the herd. developing on a major scale. 1982 The Quintette Coal Mine at Tumbler Dane-zaa were not immediately pre- have a profitable beaver market 1947 arate Bands, becoming Blueberry Riv- lenges of Ministry of Energy and give the permit to Canfor was done  Sour gas well erupts at Blueberry cre- The defendant, too, will suffer irrepara- without meaningful consultation and Ridge, open since the mid 1980’s, closes. pared. Most of the traditional territo- 1951 er First Nation and Doig River First  The Treaty 8 Tribal Association (T8TA) Moines exploration permits failed. ble harm if the injunction were to be ating a state of emergency. Some Bullmoose Mine flows in April, 2003. ries of the Dane-zaa families were  Aboriginal people allowed to vote in is incorporated under the B.C. Socie- thereby quashed Nation. people come to live at Doig River or granted. The evidence discloses that the provincial election for the first time  Only one resident at Peterson’s Cross- taken over by white men ties Act ing can speak English Doig hunting camps. deprivation of the band’s hunting and 1925 1939 1961 1995 Dominion Government Peace River Block Montney  Constitution Act, 1982, is passed and trapping land through development has  Forgotten Land, Forgotten People, the From book “Peacemakers of North Peace” comes into law, recognizing the re- been steadily growing over the years, as  Halfway River No. 168  Missionary Father Jungbluth from the  W.A.C. Bennett, Premier of British Co- report of the Gas  HRFN files a Treaty Land Entitlement 1977 affirming Aboriginal and Treaty rights. has the deprivation of the traditional is created by Order in Council Provincial Oblate House builds a mis- lumbia, creates the British Columbia Pipeline Project (Mair 1979) is re- claim over an area of land known as lands of the other bands covered by sion church at Moberly Lake 1952 Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro) leased. While the pipeline is allowed Tusdzuh, an area immediately adja- Chief Montney (Mutaian) and his son. Fort. St. John,  Families of the Hudson’s Hope Band Treaty #8 to exercise their rights. circa 1904-1905. Chief Montney died at Gat Tah Kwą̂ 1917 to proceed, it has never been built. A cent to the Halfway Reserve. Halfway in 1901 split into two separate Bands becom- (Montney) in 1918 during a flu epidemic. 1914  Families settle more permanently at ing Halfway River First Nation and DRFN member recalls raising issues claimed Tusdzuh was integral to their  Steamboat “The St. Charles” begins it the surveyed Reserve 1962 –1967 1985 1927 West Moberly First Nation about this proposed mega-project culture in that it was used for hunting regular run between Fort Vermillion  Hudson’s Hope with the Beaver along the Alaska Highway 1942 that remain relevant today “the big and other traditional purposes. and Hudson’s Hope (Halfway River Indian Band, West Moberly  W.A.C. Bennett Dam is constructed  Bill C31 is passed, amending the Indi-  The Indian Act is amended to ban  An Order in Council is issued setting Alcan Pipeline they called it. People Lake Band) and Saulteau (East Moberly Lake an Act and ending some of the dis-  In the Apsassin case, the Supreme First Nations from raising funds for  Construction of the Alaska Highway by aside the Halfway Indian Reserve for were against it in Fort St. John, Char- Band) join Treaty #8 criminatory provisions in it; especially Court of finds the Crown land claims. Later, the Federal Gov- former servicemen begins, and is com- the use and benefit of the Hudson’s lie Lake, Pine Mountain, they had a those which discriminated against breaches its fiduciary obligation by ernment changes the Indian Act to plete in just over eight months. The Hope Band hearing all the way through….in those women, like the ‘double mother selling the Fort St. John Beaver Band’s make it a criminal offence for First Na- same year, many die from a flu epi- days they will talk about impacts,  Parsnip River is bridged and Hart Bedaux Expidition on Finlay River, BC 1934 clause’. It allows limited reinstate- mineral rights and making no effort to Coffins on platforms at above-ground tions to hire lawyers for land claim demic in the Upper Peace. Some sur- Highway from Prince George to what will happen if there’s a big camp grave site, north of Fort St. John, British ment for many who were denied or correct its error when it should have settlements. mise that the workers on the Alaska and strange people coming to Fort St. Chetwynd is opened. lost status in the past in 1949. Columbia. ca 1910 Highway brought the flue. The Alaska John, then drugs, and that's what the  Hudson Hope Ban surrenders Reserve Highway construction also led to cen- people talked about… the your ladies The SS D.A. Thomas headed for #168 in whole a second time. tralization of communities like Prophet will be left here. Their babies will not Hudson's Hope Royal BC Museum B- 1996 1930 River into reserve locations close to have fathers, drugs and alcohol, 06253 1978 the highway. Ridigton (1988) notes they’ll be lots here...Everybody op-  Report of Royal Commission of Abo-  Peace River Block is re-transferred by “the flue had reduced their numbers  BRFN and DRFN sue Department of posed it.” riginal Peoples (RECAP 1996), which 1918 the Dominion Government to the and the Alaska Highway had concen- 1954 Indian Affairs over lost oil and gas rev- made some 440 recommendations to

province of British Columbia. trated the few that remained.” enues in Monteney area (the case is improve the huge disparities in well-  Band Reserve lands are allotted to  First hydrocarbon discovery well is to last 20 years) being and quality of life between Ab- the West Moberly and Saulteau First drilled in the Fort St. John Area 1910 original and non-Aboriginal people in Nations Later 1970’s Canada. The of Fort Nelson adhere to  A number of lucrative coal deposits Treaty 8 after meeting with the Commis- 1945 1964  The British Columbia Ministry of For- sioner but the Sekani leave. Regardless, are identified in Tumbler Ridge Area ests issued cutting permit 212  The Fort St. John Beaver Band surren- the following year in 1911, the Sekani of  DRFN members see television for the  Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) be- (CP212) to Canadian Forests Limited ders the land of the Montney Reserve Prophet River are included, for the first first time at Petersen’s store comes an important political player, (Canfor). CP212 is located within the to the Crown to sell or lease for its time, on the Annuity Paylists, although supporting T8FN’s in there submis- Tusdzuh area. In December 1996, benefits. Halfway Reserve also surren- they refused to take Treaty in 1910 sions on both the Alaska Highway Canfor attempted to begin harvesting dered. Pipeline and Site C projects. but Halfway erected a roadblock and started legal proceedings 1965

 Last year of summer hunting trips by horse and wagon by DRFN

1792

Alexander Mackenzie uses First Nations Northwest Company fort established in Early 1700’s guides to find his way through the Rocky Hudson’s Hope. The Rocky Mountain The Cree make incursions into Dane-Zaa Mountains by Peace River pass. The ex- Portage House, built by James MacDou- Territory and because they have fire- pansion of the was the natural gall, operates on the south side of the arms they push the Dane-Zaa westward. sequence of such explorations (Kitto Peace River and across from the present The Cree may have been attracted to the 1930) town of Hudson’s Hope (Fladmark 1805

Northwest Company fort established in 1821 Hudson’s Hope. The Rocky Mountain 1805 The Hudson’s Bay Company takes con- Portage House, built by James MacDou- Northwest Company fort established in trol of the Northwest Company’s Assets gall, operates on the south side of the Hudson’s Hope. The Rocky Mountain (Fladmark 1985) Peace River and across from the present Portage House, built by James MacDou- town of Hudson’s Hope (Fladmark gall, operates on the south side of the 1821 1828 The Hudson’s Bay Company takes con- 1862 trol of the Northwest Company’s Assets The HBC fort at Dunvegan () is fi- A smallpox epidemic, which began in (Fladmark 1985) nally re-opened when the beaver and Sekani Bands petition the HBC and Victoria, spreads throughout the prov- apologize. As noted by T8TA (no date): ince and the population of the First Na- 1866

The Rocky Mountain Portage House is 1862 moved to the north side of the Peace 1886 River at the present town of Hudson’s A smallpox epidemic, which began in Hopeand used as a supply center for the Bishop Faraud, the first missionary in Victoria, spreads throughout the prov- gold rush (Finlay 1976). Fort St. John, reported on the epidemic ince and the population of the First Na- of scarlet fever on the Beaver Indians 1899 1896 Treaty No. 8 is signed June 21 at Lesser 1886 begins with the dis- . The Treaty Commissioners covery of gold at Rabbit Creek (Bonanza travel to meet the Beaver at Fort St. Bishop Faraud, the first missionary in Creek), near Dawson City, Yukon. A John, but are too late. The Beaver al- Fort St. John, reported on the epidemic flood of prospectors comes to pass ready left for their summer hunting of scarlet fever on the Beaver Indians through the Peace region via . grounds.

Treaty No. 8 is signed June 21 at Lesser 1901 1905 Slave Lake. The Treaty Commissioners The BC Game Amendment Act imposes travel to meet the Beaver at Fort St. Neil Gething discovers coal in the Rocky game restrictions and a six-year ban on John, but are too late. The Beaver al- Mountain Canyon. the taking of beaver pelts. This causes ready left for their summer hunting much hardship, strife and confusions among First Nations, who are fined and Alexander Mackenzie reports in his jour- that time, they would starve to nal that the Beaver first acquire firearms death” (DR03 June 28, 2012).

Conflict continues between the Cree and Beaver, culminating in a peace agree- ment. A truce between the Beaver and the Cree is reached a t the Tsadu (Beaver) River, after which the location became known as Peace Point and the water body became known as the Peace River (T8TA no date) 1794-1797 1787 , or Rocky Mountain, Fort built where the Moberly River enters the Hudson's Bay Company and Northwest Peace River to act as a base for further Smallpox decimates the Western Cree Company traders competing for fur in explorations. First Trading Post of BC, established by the Northwest Company at the confluence of the Moberly and Peace Rivers—it is “the most westerly English (and French) speaking outpost of the continent of North Amer- ica” (Fladmark 1985) Northwest Company establishes Fort St. John that time, they would starve to them, Hudson’s Bay Company, so if the death” (DR03 June 28, 2012). Indian people didn’t hunt for them at that time, they would starve to death” (DR03 June 28, 2012). 1822

The first horse arrives in the northern 1813 British Bolumbia from Dunvegan and is stabled at Fort St. John (Faries 1823). Northwest Company establishes Fort St. Beaver Indians later extensively incorpo- John rated horses as pack animals into their social economy of seasonal rounds. 1823

Hudson's Bay Company and Northwest The “Massacre” of St. John’s. The clos- Company traders competing for fur in ing of the Hudson’s Bay Company Post at camp (NA-1406-39) St. John’s, along with depletion of game and resources led to unrest and a con- flict in which the St. John’s Clerk, Guy Hughes, was shot. The following day, 1813 four more HBC employees who had just Northwest Company establishes Fort St. arrived were also killed. The HBC with- draw trade from the area (T8TA no date), causing widespread hardship for the Beaver Indians. Ridington (1988) also notes that by this time, the Dane Zaa had already shifted their entire tween Dunvegan and MacLeod Lake Rupert's’ Land to Her Majesty in return [Dane-Zaa territory] during his 26 year for land and monetary compensation. 1822 tenure”.

The first horse arrives in the northern British Bolumbia from Dunvegan and is stabled at Fort St. John (Faries 1823). Beaver Indians later extensively incorpo- rated horses as pack animals into their social economy of seasonal rounds. 1823

The “Massacre” of St. John’s. The clos- ing of the Hudson’s Bay Company Post at

St. John’s, along with depletion of game and resources led to unrest and a con- 1830 flict in which the St. John’s Clerk, Guy 1865 Hughes, was shot. The following day, The bison, a staple food for the Dane- four more HBC employees who had just Zaa, are reported as being Scarce and Henry Moberly, a Hudson’s Bay fur arrived were also killed. The HBC with- moose were increasingly turned to as a trader, resides at Moberly Lake, which is draw trade from the area (T8TA no staple (Broomfield no date) named after him. date), causing widespread hardship for the Beaver Indians. Ridington (1988) also notes that by this time, the Dane- Zaa had already shifted their entire Rupert's’ Land to Her Majesty in return for land and monetary compensation. 1888-1908

Saulteau (Cree from the Red River area of ) arrive at Moberly Lake.

1871

BC joins confederation. Indian policies had been formulated separately in "Moberly Lake, looking east from Indian the BC colonies from those in the Do- reserve at west end"; 1930 minion, and following confederation 1865-1868 they come into conflict. For many years, BC continues a policy to Henry Moberly, a Hudson’s Bay fur “ignore or deny the existence of any 1892 trader, resides at Moberly Lake, which is native title or rights, or any need for named after him. The Residential School system is treaties” (T8TA no date). launched through a federal Oder in Council. This was the beginning of the Company withdraws the use of education for cultural assimila- credit system from indigenous cus- tion. as well as North West Mounted Police from passing through the Fort St. John area until a Treaty of Peace has been signed. Klondike trekkers had been ac- cused of stealing the Beaver’s horses The Treaty Party at 1908 and shooting their dogs (T8TA no date). (Glenbow NA-949-25) The government assures the Indians in Saulteau (Cree from the Red River area Fort St. John that such a Treaty would be of Manitoba) arrive at Moberly Lake. negotiated the following year (Metes, 1994). 1900

A second Treaty Commission, under James A. Macrae, returns to Fort St. John to meet with some members of the "Moberly Lake, looking east from Indian Beaver Band present at the time. reserve at west end"; 1930 Muckithay, Aginaa, Dislisici, Tachea, Ap- pan, Attachie, Allallie and Tasoose sign Klondikers on the Peace River, 1899 the Treaty No. 8 on May 30 (Attachie no 1892 (GAA NA 1255-38) date)

The Residential School system is launched through a federal Oder in Council. This was the beginning of the use of education for cultural assimila- The Treaty Party at Lesser Slave Lake

1929 Rocky Mountain Canyon, shelving A second Treaty Commission, under rock and coal seam noted by Mackenzie James A. Macrae, returns to Fort St. in 1793. Glenbow I-57452 John to meet with some members of the Beaver Band present at the time. Muckithay, Aginaa, Dislisici, Tachea, Ap- pan, Attachie, Allallie and Tasoose sign the Treaty No. 8 on May 30 (Attachie no being.

1885 Father Emile Jungbluth's mission "bus" Indian Act revised to prohibit cultural full of children at Moberly Lake, British (‘religious’) ceremonies such as potla- Columbia. Cree, Salteaux and Beaver ches and dances. were picked up from reserves around Moberly Lake for catechism classes. Father Emile Jungbluth's mission "bus" Moberly Lake, British Columbia. Cree, Salteaux and Beaver were picked up from reserves around for catechism classes.