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Powell, Israel Wood
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Diary of William Sinclair III

The item consists of one day book belonging to William Sinclair III, an employee of the Hudson's Bay Company and stationed at Bella Coola post. The day book itself is dated 1874, however Sinclair used it between 1878-1879 and re-wrote the dates for each entry. The day book is a private diary kept by Sinclair and not an HBC corporate record, however it documents the business activities of Bella Coola Post.

The final pages include a draft letter to I.W. Powell, Superintendent of Indian Affairs for British Columbia, on behalf of the local chief (not named). The draft letter expresses dissatisfaction on behalf of the local Indigenous people regarding broken promises. Also included among the final pages of the diary are recipes for pies and plum pudding, instructions for tanning hides, a list of British Navy vessels, and a rough translation dictionary of common words and phrases in English and an unidentified Indigenous language (possibly Nuxalk).

The diary accounts from Sinclair's nine day journey from Victoria to Bella Coola and his daily activities upon arriving at the post. There is a brief entry for each day, which sometimes consists only of an update on the weather whereas other days have more lengthy descriptions of activities. The diary includes descriptions of interactions with local Indigenous populations

Documents relating to the Masons

The file consists of three documents relating to Thomas Lowe's involvement with the Masons. Two of the records are signed by Israel Wood Powell in his roles as Right Worshipful Master and later as Provincial Grand Master of BC.

H.M.S. Rocket and her officers

The item is a b&w photograph, probably taken by photographer O.C. Hastings in July 1879. Hastings accompanied Dr. I.W. Powell (Superintendent of Indian Affairs for British Columbia) and A.C. Anderson (Commissioner and Fisheries inspector) on a tour of coastal reserves and villages. They traveled on the H.M.S. Rocket.

On the back of the photograph, the following are identified:
Centre Capt. Orlebar; standing 3rd from left A.C. Anderson; [standing] at end Dr. I. W. Powell.

Indian Commission album

  • MS-3433
  • Series
  • 1879-1881

The series consists of a photograph album, known as the Indian Commission album, but possibly created by or for Dr. I.W. Powell (Superintendent of Indian Affairs for British Columbia) or A.C. Anderson (Commission and Fisheries Inspector) after 1881. It contains 100 photographs from Powell and Anderson's visits to First Nations communities on the British Columbia coast in 1879 and 1881. The photographs were taken by various photographers who accompanied Powell on his trips, including O.C. Hastings and Edward Dossetter. They are of the First Nations villages and people, the ship HMS Rocket and its crew, and landscapes encountered.

Indian lands correspondence and other material

  • GR-0504
  • Series
  • 1861-1877

This series consists of correspondence, petitions, accounts, statements of population, and reports relating to land of Indigenous peoples in British Columbia from the Department of the Provincial Secretary.

British Columbia. Dept. of the Provincial Secretary

I.W. Powell

The item is a b&w carte de visite photograph taken by J.W. Vaughan between 1862 and 1865. The photograph is of Dr. Israel Wood Powell.

Letter to I.W. Powell regarding reserves

Item consists of one letter (copy) written by James Douglas to Israel Wood Powell, Superintendent of Indian Affairs. Douglas' letter is in response to a letter from Powell (9 October 1874) inquiring whether, during Douglas' tenure a Governor of British Columbia, there was a specific basis of acreage used in setting apart reserves.

Lt. Colonel I. W. Powell

The item is a b&w photograph of Dr. I.W. Powell, Superintendent of Indian Affairs for British Columbia. The photograph may have been taken by O.C. Hastings in 1879.

Natives, Metlahcatlah

The item is a b&w photograph taken by Dossetter at Metlakatla in June 1881. It shows a group of men sitting on the steps of a building. Standing behind them are two men, possibly William Duncan and Dr. I.W. Powell.

Photograph album

The series consists of a photograph album, possibly created by either photographer Edward Dossetter or Dr. I.W. Powell (Superintendent of Indian Affairs for British Columbia) in 1881-1882. The album contains 52 photographs, six illustrations apparently cut from a magazine or book and one postcard of an engraving.

The first 35 photographs were taken by Dossetter during the inspection of coastal Indian Reserves by Powell, on their 1881 trip on the HMS Rocket. The photographs are of First Nations people and villages. The album also contains a photograph of the Gorge in Victoria, seven photographs of celebration arches, four photographs of Esquimalt Harbour and two of Lytton, taken in 1882. These photographs may have been taken by Richard Maynard.

In addition there are six illustrations, mostly religious artworks, three photographs of Cornwall, England and a postcard engraving of a cannery.

Powell family fonds

  • PR-1510
  • Fonds
  • 1860-1919, 1921, 1950

The fonds consists of Israel Wood Powell's diaries; notebooks; account book; certificates of medical, governmental and Masonic appointments; and correspondence pertaining to his tenure as Chancellor of the University of British Columbia. Fonds includes correspondence and Alexandra Club speeches of Jane Powell and certificates of Jane, Ernest, and Bertram Powell.

Powell (family)

Songhees agreement for removal to Cadboro Bay

Item consists of one handwritten document addressed to the Superintendent General of Indian Affairs (I.W. Powell) and signed by members of Songhees First Nation. It is dated February 7, 1881. The signatories are: Chish; Koo-lai-mult; Koo-lai-sa lue; Hul tsai mult; Quoss l sits; Whe-nook; Lipp; Sala-hala-noo; Louis (Noo-noo-wha-nuk); Ai-Whin; Ka-wai-tsim; Qua-mi-ai; Hoo-tihwi-ai; Shoto-hoom; Henry (Sauk); Tomaikh; Tse-al-ton; Tchillack; Hltahulto; Tshenal klum; Teeai[t or l]ou; Se-ol-sut; Shil-uh (Jimmy); Yallelth; Dick (Hai-tsa-kanum).

Tours of inspection aboard H.M.S. Boxer

Sub-series consists of field photographs taken by Richard Maynard on two tours of inspection of Indigenous communities on Vancouver Island and the mainland coast of British Columbia in 1873 and 1874. Maynard accompanied Superintendent of Indian Affairs, Israel Wood Powell, as the photographer on government tours of the west coast of British Columbia on board the H.M.S. Boxer, a gunboat vessel of the Royal Navy.

The following First Nations communities are among those visited during the 1873 tour:

  • -Kwakwaka'waka Nation community near Knight Inlet, a community/camp up the Sawatti river, British Columbia mainland (May 31, 1873). Reported by I.W. Powell as “T'sawattie Knights Inlet.”

  • -Indigenous community in the Nuxalk nation region near Bella Coola close to Bentinck Arm, British Columbia mainland (June 6 or June 6-8th, 1873).

  • -Indigenous community in the [Nuxalk nation] region near Bella Coola up the river, British Columbia mainland (June 6 or June 6-8th, 1873). Reported by I.W. Powell as previously identified as the “Village of the Rascals”

  • -Indigenous community near Takush Harbour, near Cape Caution, British Columbia mainland (June 9, 1873). Reported by I.W. Powell as meeting the "Qwoi-sil-lahs" at the "[Qwoi]-sil-lahs Camp" after proceeding to Cape Caution and Takush Harbour.

  • The following First Nations communities are among those visited during the 1874 tour:

  • -Nuu-chah-nulth nations of the southern region at Green Cove, Vancouver Island (September 7, 1874). Reported in the media as the “Ohiet” [Huu-ay-aht] and “Owchucklisaht.”

  • -Nuu-chah-nulth nations of the central region near “Hecate passage north of Vargas Island” in Clayoquot Sound, Vancouver Island (September 8, 1874). Reported in the media as the “Ahousahts” [Ahousaht] and the “Klahookwahts” [Tla—o-qui-aht].

  • -Nations in the area of the Nuu-chah-nulth (of the central region) near “Hecate passage north of Vargas Island” in Clayoquot Sound, Vancouver Island (September 9, 1874).

  • -Indigenous community near Refuge Cove, British Columbia mainland (September 9, 1874). Reported in the media as “where the Mahnohhahsahts live.” Reported by Richard Maynard as “refuge Cove Indian name [Manhousesett].”

  • -Nuu-chah-nulth region and a community near Friendly Cove in the Nootka Sound on the west coast of Vancouver Island (September 10 and 11, 1874). Reported in the media as the “Movitchahts, known as the Nootkahs. Reported by I.W. Powell as the Moo-cha-ahts. Reported by I.W. Powell as meeting the “successor” of Chief “Maquinna.”

  • -Nuu-chah-nulth nations of the northern region at Queen’s Cove, Vancouver Island (September 11, 1874). Reported in the media as the “Ehahtisaht” [Ehattesaht] and the “Noochatlaht” [Nuchatlaht].

  • -“Shushartie Bay,” Vancouver Island (September 13, 1874). Reported in the media as the “Nawitee.”

  • -Kwakwaka'wakw nation region and community at Fort Rupert, Vancouver Island (September 14, 1874).

  • -Kwakwaka'wakw nation region and community at Alert Bay (Nimpkish River), Vancouver Island (September 14 and 15, 1874)

  • -Coast Salish community near Departure Bay on the Vancouver Island (September 16 and 17, 1874).