Tsartlip
The Tsartlip First Nation or Tsarlip are one of the First Nations living on Vancouver Island on the Pacific coast of Canada . They are one of the five First Nations around Victoria that make up the Saanich Nation . Their houses are on Brentwood Bay. They are one of the five groups of houses or "families" of the Saanich, which include the Malahat and Pauquachin (between Gordon Head and Cowichan Head), the Tsawout (on Saanichton Bay) and the Tseycum (on Patricia Bay). In 2006, 784 people were recognized as tribal members.
They all belong to the North Straits Salish or Lekwungaynung-speaking tribal group that includes the Saanich , Songhees, and the T'sou-ke First Nation. These in turn belong to the coastal Salish who live between Vancouver Island and Washington .
history
Contract with the Hudson's Bay Company
In 1852, James Douglas signed two contracts with the Saanich. He signed one on February 6 with the southern Saanich, i.e. the Pauquachin and Malahat, and one on February 11 with the northern Saanich - signed by Hotutstun and 117 other people. Against several hundred blankets, this contract was the basis to take their land from them, similar to the neighboring Songhees in 1850 .
Reservations
The 784 Tsartlip (2006) still live in the reserve assigned in 1877, which in turn goes back to the treaty of 1852. There are 118 houses there today.
Chief dynasty Paul
One of the most famous wrestlers (rather grapplers ) of Indian descent was Jean Baptiste Paul, born in 1896, who appeared as Chief Thunderbird from 1935 . He was the son of Chief Tommy Paul, who in turn was the son of Chief Ben Paul. His athletic career began at Indian college in Tacoma , where he first became known as a boxer in 1933 . In Great Britain he became known through his tours (1951–1952 and 1954–1955), because he appeared as a wrestler in chief robes and under drums. He told the BBC : “You must have kept all your nice people here - and sent your mean whites to my country. Because they certainly wound up stealing it from us Indians. ”In 1955 he ended his career. A totem pole was erected in honor of the person who died on November 23, 1966 .
His son Philip Paul (1933 to 1992) attended the Kuper Island Residential School (see review article ), St. Louis College, and North Saanich High School . Like his father, he became a chief and was a co-founder of the Southern Vancouver Island Federation , the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs and the National Indian Brotherhood . In 1967 he became director of native studies at the Institute of Adult Studies (later called Camosun College ). From 1971 to 1975 he mainly worked as Director of Land Claims Research , where he dealt with the land claims of the Indians . From 1975 to 1980 he was at the head of the administration and the education department of the chiefs association. From 1980 he headed the Saanich Indian School Board to teach "the best of both worlds" at these schools.
Current situation
The Tsartlip First Nation is currently trying hardest to maintain its sovereignty. This includes economic independence, for which the Arbutus project was launched. This resort should be completed after five years of construction. Allan Claxton of Tsawout First Nation announced in March 2007 that after a vote in which 232 were in favor, 70 against the project and 2 votes were invalid, the land rights and the administration can be returned. This repeals all areas of the Indian Act relating to land administration and establishes an autonomous administration.
This is possible because the treaties of 1852 never lost their validity. In principle, the tribes concerned have extensive sovereign rights in their areas. This applies to even the most remote regulations, such as the night hunting ban in Canada. In 2006 Tsartlip hunters were able to successfully refer to it.
Like many Indian tribes, the Tsartlip try to protect their cultural heritage. However, vandalism and theft continue to occur, as in August 2007 when a stone bowl or mortar, possibly used to grind grain, which is estimated to be 2,000 to 4,000 years old, disappeared from Mayne Island .
The main purpose of passing on their cultural heritage is to set up their own schools, such as the LÁU, WELNEW Tribal School in the Tsartlip area. It is supported by the Pauquachin, Tsawout and Tseycum. Opened in 1989, almost 200 students are now being taught there.
Remarks
- ↑ According to Aboriginal Canada Portal: Archived copy ( memento of the original from March 25, 2010 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. .
- ↑ Cf. Ian Walker: Saanich snap was signature move of Chief Thunderbird, in: Vancouver Sun, June 25, 2008 ( Memento of the original from October 31, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. .
- ↑ According to the Biography of Philip Paul ( Memento of the original from June 29, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. .
- ↑ See the article from the Center for Constitutional Studies : [1] .
- ↑ Article "Massive Tsartlip artifact stolen from Mayne Island beach" in the Times Colonist of August 17, 2007: [ Archived copy ( memento of the original of February 11, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. ]. The bowl, about one meter in diameter, had been stolen 15 years ago, but someone had returned it anonymously.
- ↑ The school's homepage: Saanich Indian School Board ( Memento of the original from May 17, 2006 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link has been inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. .
Web links
- Website of the Tsartlip
- A tourism company agreed with the Tsartlip, the Arbutus project
- Saanich Classified Word List
- Saanich Archives (City Archives)
- Texts of the Douglas Treaties ( Memento from June 22, 2008 in the Internet Archive )