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The Barricades are Removed, October 1904

The first round of the several year dispute that led up to the creation of the Lake Babine Barricade treaty happened in October of 1904, although it had been building for some time.  As more canneries were opened on the lower Skeena River the government was under increased pressure to do something about declining salmon stocks.   The canneries were pointing the finger at the First Nations fisheries up the Skeena, especially at Babine Lake.  October of 1904 saw the fishery officer Hans Helgesen making his way up the Skeena River to inspect the Babine fishery.  He located the fishery centred on two major fish weirs several miles down the Babine River.  Helgesen noted how efficient the weirs were for capturing salmon, but failed to realize that the Babine had a system to allow many salmon through the weir to spawn and keep the stock healthy and stable.  Helgesen spoke with Chief Atio and informed the Chief that the new fisheries regulations meant that the weirs had to be destroyed.  Atio responded that the Babine had a right to fish this river and had done so for generations.  Helgesen had to resort to threatening to send the men to jail to force them to take the weirs apart.  Later, during a meeting, the Babine insisted on receiving compensation for the work they did taking down the weir, and so that they could provide for their families. Helgesen agreed to pay them $600.00 for taking down the weir, provide rations for widows and orphans, and give everyone nets to fish with.

Timeline

1812

Daniel Williams Harmon Visits Babine Lake, January 1812

On January 20th, 1812 Daniel Williams Harmon of the North West Company became the first European to record their visit to Babine Lake.

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1822

The Establishment of Fort Kilmaurs, October 1822

In October of 1822 Hudson’s Bay Company Trader William Brown cleared the portage between Stuart and Babine Lakes landed on present day Old Fort as the location for the HBC post in ‘Babine Country’.

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1884

The Balhats are Prohibited, 1884

In 1884 the Indian Act was amended to prevent First Nations people from practicing many elements for their culture.

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1889

The First Indian Agent, 1889

In 1889 the area around the upper Skeena centred on Hazelton was designated the Babine Agency.  Indian Agent R. E. Loring was sent to oversee all of the First Nations people in that area.

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1904

The Barricades are Removed, October 1904

The first round of the several year dispute that led up to the creation of the Lake Babine Barricade treaty happened in October of 1904

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1905

Rotten Nets are Provided, Fall 1905

In the fall of 1905 fisheries officers brought nets for the Babine to use, but they were so rotten they tore rather than holding the fish.

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1906

The Barricades are Protected and the Treaty is Made, 1906

After nearly starving the winter before due to the rotten nets that the fisheries officers had supplied, the Babine people rebuilt the weir in the summer of 1906.

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1957

The Amalgamation of Old Fort and Fort Babine Indian Bands, 1957

Until 1957 Old Fort and Fort Babine were considered separate nations.

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