This series consists of Aboriginal liaison and First Nations consultation case files, primarily for the Cariboo region, from 1985-2008. These records document the Ministry of Environment and its successors' resource management involvement with First Nations groups and consultation with respect to resource management plans. Each file documents consultation and communication with a particular First Nation, Tribal Council or other Indigenous group regarding a variety of issues and practices related to resource management and use. File may be related to land claims, land use planning, the creation of sustainable resource management plans (SRMPs) and sub-regional area plans, or specific resource management and land management issues, including forestry, water rights, wildlife management and hunting, mining, protection of parks and cultural sites, and the creation of roads.

The files in this series were titled and organized in most instances as case files, based on the name of the First Nation involved in the consultation process. Many files document the creation and finalization of various kinds of agreements between the Ministry and First Nations groups. Files also include the planning and execution of joint projects, workshops and meetings to consult First Nations about the creation of resource management plans or to address specific resource management issues.

Files may include correspondence, reports, memorandums of understanding, agreements, financial records, business records of the relevant indigenous group, consultation protocols, maps, and newspaper articles and government responses to them.

Most files regard a particular indigenous group, mostly from the Cariboo and surrounding region, including: 'Esdilagh (Alexandria Band), Alexis Creek, Tl'etinqox Government (Anaham), Llenlleney'ten (High Bar), Bonaparte, Tsq’escen (Canim Lake), Stswecem’c/Xgat’tem (Canoe Creek), Carrier-Sekani Tribal Council, Carrier Chilcotin Tribal Council, Cariboo Tribal Council, Northern Secwēpemc te Qelmūcw (NStQ or Northern Shuswap Tribal Council), Esketemc (Alkali Lake), Hamatla Treaty Society, Homalco, Lhoosk’uz Dene (Kluskus), Lheidli-Tenneh, Nazko, Nuxalk Nation Government, Lhtako Dene (Red Bluff), Saik’uz, Skeetchestn, Shuswap Nation Tribal Council, Xat’sūll (Soda Creek), Simpcw (North Thompson Indian Band), Yunesit'in Government (Stone Indian Band), Tsilhqot’in National Government, Tl'esqox (Toosey First Nation), St'át'imc, Ts'kw'aylaxw, Ulkatcho Nation, Whispering Pines/Clinton, T'exelc (Williams Lake Indian Band), and Xeni Gwet’in First Nations. Other Indigenous groups may be mentioned within files.

Note that some of these files were reviewed as part of the following litigation: Xeni Gwet’in First Nations Government v. Her Majesty the Queen et al.

Ministries responsible for the creation of this series, and their dates of the responsibility, are:
Ministry of Environment (1988-1991)
British Columbia. Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks (1991-2001)
British Columbia. Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management (2001-2005)
British Columbia. Ministry of Agriculture and Lands (2005-2010)

Records in this series are covered by ORCS 17020-20 and 17730-25 of the Resource Management ORCS (schedule 144100).

CALL NUMBER: T0314:0001 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1964-07-23 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. Alfred Joseph Drinkell tells some stories about the history of the Dog Creek area of the Cariboo, from 1860 to 1914. Drinkell discusses his arrival in BC in 1911. He describes the ranches he worked at around Ashcroft, Joseph Smith's place, and his financial problems and life before he came to BC. He tells anecdotes about Judge Begbie. He tells a story about Samsome, a local doctor, and the legendary packer Jean Caux ("Cataline").

TRACK 2: Drinkell relates the story of Cataline's last trip and describes many trails in the area. He speaks of Joy Sim, a Chinese doctor, and pioneer medicine. He discusses some of Cataline's packers: Robbins, Wiggins Dan Smith, and the first settlers in the area. He describes the Hudson's Bay Trail, freighting, roads in the area, stories about Phil Grinder of Jesmond, a local school teacher, and educated people.

CALL NUMBER: T0314:0002 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1964-07-23 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Drinkell describes the early days of Ashcroft, the Chinese in the area, two anecdotes: the Wright of the Dog Creek Ferry and the Stobie of the Gang Ranch. He offers the background of the Gang Ranch and describes cattle drives, the Duke Of York, a Barkerville bartender, and local Indians.

TRACK 2: Drinkell discusses cowboys, social life and Christmas. Then he mentions Indian-White relationships and a story about Indians and the law. He discusses the Chilcotin and Shuswap Indians, problems with the reserve system, Chinese settlers in the Dog Creek area, and the importance of Chinese in the area. Finally, Drinkell tells the story of five Indian women who killed themselves over a white man, and how nails and gold dust were used as money.

Letter to Provincial Archivist E.O.S. Scholefield from Anthropologist James A. Teit regarding Simon Fraser's identifications of the Shuswap, Chilcotin and Thompson River Indians.

CALL NUMBER: T3532:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Memories of St. Joseph's Mission, Williams Lake, B.C. RECORDED: Alkali Lake (B.C.), 1979-06-07 SUMMARY:

TRACK 1: David and Celestine Johnson share reminiscences about their life at the Indian Residential School: going to school as young children (7 years old); learning English; older relatives helped younger ones to adjust; boys sawed wood; children slept in dormitories; Father Boening; clothing worn; boys and girls not allowed to mix; Father Thomas traveled all through area to advise Natives; pictures of ranch where David's father worked; wintertime difficult at the Mission school; older girls made clothes for all other children. TRACK 2: Celestine and David Johnson discuss: girls learned a lot about sewing, crocheting; boys learned how to fix shoes; playrooms for girls and boys; Shuswap language forbidden; illness at the Mission school; Williams Lake was basically non-existent at the time; David and Celestine were in school; burning of the school house, 1908 (?); Father Thomas' money stash; Mission had a lot of cattle; Father Thomas used to come to Alkali three times a year -- spoke some Shuswap.

CALL NUMBER: T3532:0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Memories of St. Joseph's Mission, Williams Lake, B.C. RECORDED: Alkali Lake (B.C.), 1979-06-07 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: David and Celestine Johnson discuss: not being allowed to speak the Shuswap language at the Mission school; learning English; Sisters were mainly French, except for Sister Patricia who was Irish; some kids ran away (David did, but not Celestine); getting in trouble with teachers; Mission school was strict, but kids learned a lot; learning to cook and bake; food was different at school than home; sausages on Sundays; Chinook language. TRACK 2: The Johnsons discuss: David learned Chinook on his own; Father Thomas' buggy; their daughter went to Mission school, but it was different from the days when David and Celestine were there; Sister Patricia was nice; girls not allowed to see boys; story of Father Capani; Father Thomas anecdotes; visit from the Bishop; Native church. (End of interview)

RECORDED: [location unknown], 1965-10-29 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. Francis Edwards reminisces about life around Pavilion around 1900. Mr. Edwards tells the story of a cattle drive to Vancouver involving Pecullah Kosta, Robert Carson and Richard Hoey in 1877. Mr. Edwards discusses his father, Chief Edwards; an anecdote about the pack trains; how his father came to the area in Shuswap; his childhood memories of trading fish for staple foods; hunting; then and now; working at the Robert Carson Ranch in 1906; Robert Carson and the Indians; and other ranches. TRACK 2: Edwards continues discussion about ranches; Robert Carson; John Bryson; Keekwillie [pit house] holes; and songs.

RECORDED: [location unknown], 1964-07-01 SUMMARY: TRACK 1 & 2: Mr. Frank Paul describes and discusses his family from the along the US-Canadian border; they ended up settling in the Windermere area in the East Kootenays; he offers family and personal stories; living in south central and eastern BC. Mr. Paul is of Kootenay-Shuswap Indian background.

CALL NUMBER: T3531:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Informal discussion on the subject of St. Joseph's Mission School, Williams Lake, B.C. RECORDED: Alkali Lake (B.C.), 1979-06-05 SUMMARY: Interviewees discuss their life at the Mission Indian Residential School. Many voices are heard, making it difficult to follow dialogue. TRACK 1: In this discussion, topics touched upon include: experiences at the Mission school; Sisters teaching at Mission; running away from the Mission; Father Aurore -- intelligent man; loss of the Native language; learning English; hard for parents to visit; Sisters Laura and Patricia were at Mission for many years; girls sewed clothing for themselves and for the boys' school; description of typical day. TRACK 2: Discussion of: Brother Collins; boys had to look after livestock; learning to cook; anecdote about making a fire at 3 am; ironing, washing clothes; mass every morning; relations between boys and girls were limited; teasing by the boys; story about one woman's wedding; visit of Bishop, confirmations; changes in Mission school layout.

CALL NUMBER: T3531:0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Informal discussion on the subject of St. Joseph's Mission School, Williams Lake, B.C. RECORDED: Alkali Lake (B.C.), 1979-06-05 SUMMARY: Interviewees discuss their life at the Mission Indian Residential School. Many voices are heard making it difficult to follow dialogue. TRACK 1: Discussion of: train station near the Mission school; Indian graveyard rumours; years spent at the school; working for the Sisters in the summer; graduating, activities after graduation; games played; stories about other Natives in the community who went to the Mission school; boys were dressed as girls if they ran away; differences between lifestyle of Natives in the pre-war years, and now. (End of interview)

The records in this series consist of correspondence and reports inward to the Provincial Secretary from the Joint Indian Reserve Commission (Alexander Caulfield Anderson, Dominion Commissioner, Archibald McKinlay, Provincial Commissioner, and Gilbert Malcolm Sproat, Joint Commissioner). The records include reports; summaries of work; minutes of decision; census of Indian population, livestock and acreage of reserves; and two memoranda dated 1869 by J.W. Trutch regarding disputes about Indian lands in Cowichan district.

Copies of correspondence inward to the Lieutenant Governor from the Commissioners and certain correspondence with Dominion Officials is also included in the record. The records are as originally filed. In most cases, the original Provincial Secretary's file number may be seen on the first document in a file, eg., for file 3 the number is 664/76, representing the 664 document received in the year 1876.

SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Memories of St. Joseph's Mission, Williams Lake, B.C. RECORDED: Alkali Lake (B.C.), 1979-06-06 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: In an interview with Margaret Whitehead, Lilly Squinahan shares memories of her time at St. Joseph's Mission: typical day; her knowledge of English; sewing own clothes; learning to cook; everything the school needed, they produced (for the most part); Brother Collins; spent nine years in school, but only went to grade 6 academically (ages 9 to 18). Had to leave school to make room for new students. She enjoyed school and believes other students did too. Religion at St. Joseph's. Some children ran away from the school -- workmen would have to go looking for them. Chilcotin children in the school. All her siblings went to St. Joseph's too. Her youngest brother used to run away. Trapping no longer practiced by many Natives. Parents did not come to visit often. Holidays were six weeks. TRACK 2: Lily Squinahan: On holidays, Father Thomas would sometimes come to the reserve -- he was very strict (no alcohol, no dancing). Discussion of other priests. Chief Samson. Chief and Father Thomas had a court-like system set up where people would pay fines and confess to wrongdoings. Little alcohol on the reserve in old days. Chief is no longer a hereditary position. Concluding remarks.

RECORDED: [location unknown], 1965-11-08 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. Micky Derickson talks about Indians in the Okanagan area, 1858 to 1915. He discusses his early life including family details; how he came to the Okanagan in 1910; people in the Westbank; area; a coddling moth problem in 1915; hard times; recollections of Chief Tomat of the Westbank reserve; his great-grandfather William Lewis Peone; comments on Kelowna area history; travels of William Peone; more on Chief Tomat and his recollections; the Allison family; Okanagan brigade trail route; a shooting of a policeman; orchards near Westbank; memories of journeys north from the U.S. with Nez Perce Indians to pick hops at Coldstream Ranch. TRACK 2: Mr. Derickson discusses the pronunciations and meaning of various Indian place names; John Ashnola; the naming of Skaha Lake; the Coldstream Ranch during hop picking; details of travel; farming; McLoughlin's Canyon Massacre in 1858; raids between Shuswap and Okanagan Indians; an incident at McIntyre Bluff; and the finding of a carcass of a strange animal on the beach.

CALL NUMBER: T0920:0001 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1964-06-02 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mrs. Minnie Caldwell Irvin came to Arrowhead BC from Nova Scotia in 1911. She mentions her father Edward C. Smith. She discusses her marriage to Sam Irvin and her reasons for coming west. She offers her impressions upon arrival in Arrowhead, and some early memories of Arrowhead; boats on the Arrow Lakes; Halcyon Hot Springs; St. Leon; Revelstoke; Arrowhead and Arrowhead Hotels; a lands;lide at Whisky Point; recreation, such as skating. She discusses her husband's background, and then discusses the lumber industry; lake boats and Captain Cambourne; Rossland's red light district; Rossland in 1896; the decline of Arrowhead, and her move to Athalmer in the Columbia Valley in 1912. TRACK 2: Mrs. Irvin describes the Columbia Valley stage: Jim McKay; Sir Randolph Bruce; 'Whistling' Rufe Kempton; Mr. and 'Ma' Henderson. She discusses riverboats; Sir Randolph Bruce and the Columbia Valley orchards land scheme; the Athalmer area economy; railroad construction. She then compares Windermere; Invermere; Athalmer and Wilmer. She discusses Kootenay and Shuswap Indians and comments on Indian-White relations; recreation; more about 'Whistling' Rufe. She describes the Athalmer Hotel in 1912; the coronation of the hotel at Arrowhead; social life and recreation at Athalmer; cock fighting; Fairmont and Radium Hot Springs.

CALL NUMBER: T0920:0002 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1964-06-02 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mrs. Irvin continues with the story of how she came to Rossland from Athalmer in 1915, and stayed until 1958, operating the Irvin Hotel. She describes the red light district of Rossland; the; trip to Rossland in 1915; facilities at the hotel and making lunches for the miners. She describes Rossland in the 1930s and stories about finding and mining minerals. She discusses transportation ;and compares Athalmer to Rossland. She then compares Rossland to other mining towns. TRACK 2: Mrs. Irvin describes the scenery near Rossland; recreation such as horseback riding, a first in the tow;n in the 1920s; Rossland's beginnings; the history of the Irvin Hotel; the explosion of 1905; hotels; and an incident with 'Calgary Red'.; CALL NUMBER: T0920:0003 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1964-06-02 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mrs. Irvin discusses 'Old Lady Jess'; Rossland buildings as they were before the fire in the 1920s. She describes the home of Ross Thompson, who Rossland was named after; Trail; Mary's Flats; at Trail; the Italian population at Trail; Mrs. Essling; an M.P.'s travel to Trail; the Sullivan Mine at Kimberly; and miscellaneous comments about the Rossland area. [TRACK 2: blank.];

The item is an audio recording of an interview with Norma Kenoras. In it she discusses band administration on the Sahhaltkum reserve since it has been controlled and organized by the band itself. She compares the band's own administration to administration by the Indian Affairs branch, and discusses both the benefits and the problems of having their own administration. Other topics discussed include the band's sources of revenue, their land-leasing business, and First Nations education. [Note: Her mention of "Harvey" is in reference to Harvey Jules, the chief of the Sahhaltkum band for the past 18 years (1977)].

RECORDED: [location unknown], 1964-11-08 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mrs. DeHart, a Shuswap Indian, tells of her great-great grandparents' migration and settling in the Columbia River Valley at Kinbasket Lake, circa 1800. She describes living conditions and encounters with the Kootenays, as well as French traders; and provides an account of the visit David Thompson, who they say was quite helpless in the wilderness. Mention of Indian agent J.S. Galbraith;. She describes a flourishing native agriculture, which has since declined. She tells the legendary "Coyote" story. TRACK 2: Mrs. DeHart continues describing and discussing aboriginal society before and after contact with whites, including: conflicts between Kootenay and prairie natives; migration of her people to Golden area; the decline of native self-sufficiency through agriculture; the detrimental effects of alcohol; some comments about aboriginal religion and customs; problems with medicine men, including the death of her great grandmother by one; good relations between Shuswap and Kootenay Indians. She describes the breakup of her family when the local priest said that men could not have two wives.

The item is a microfiche copy of a thesis by Leonard Charles Ham titled "Shuswap settlement patterns." 1975. xvii, 222 leaves: tables figs., appendices. Thesis (M.A.), Simon Fraser University, 1976. Bibliography: leaves 223-237. Canadian theses on microfiche, 30272.

CALL NUMBER: T3533:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Reminiscences of a missionary sister in British Columbia RECORDED: [location unknown], 1979-05-30 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Sister Patricia of the Sisters of the Child Jesus recalls her life as a missionary in B.C.: her background in Ireland; her desire to become a nun; choosing the Sisters of the Child Jesus; journey over to Canada; landing in Quebec, memories of Montreal and Trois Rivieres; had no idea what to expect of the Natives; beginning her life in B.C. at Sechelt -- Father Lepage, helping the teachers, learning about the Natives; impressions of the Native children; going up to Williams Lake -- first impressions of the landscape up there, description of the school buildings at St. Joseph's when she arrived, mosquitoes in summer, very cold in winter; discussion of Fathers and Sisters at the Mission school when she first arrived; Native children at Mission school were harder to understand than the ones at Sechelt; mainly Shuswap, some Chilcotin, differences between the two groups; enjoyed her time at Williams Lake very much; roles of Sisters, Fathers, Brothers; she found the boys easier to teach than the girls. TRACK 2: Sister Patricia: boys were easier to please; Natives were very reserved at first; describes a typical school day; she believes that residential schools allowed Natives to keep own culture; when she was a teacher, students learned practical things -- cooking, baking, sawing wood, sewing; Natives were very good at art; children and staff were always busy -- chores and school left little free time, but recreation did occur in the evenings (not organized games, children used imagination); music in the school; difficult for parents to visit children; believes children were very happy; Sisters made retreat to Vancouver at Christmas; children forgot much of what they learned over the summer holidays; teaching the children English; the Chinook language; going to mass on Sundays. CALL NUMBER: T3533:0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Reminiscences of a missionary sister in British Columbia RECORDED: [location unknown], 1979-05-30 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Sister Patricia of the Sisters of the Child Jesus recalls her life as a missionary in B.C.: mass was attended by white people in the surrounding area; description of Father Thomas, his duties, and his relationship with the Natives; Father Maillard was principal of the Mission school; ranch supported the school; received only a small salary; growth of school over the years; development of the Williams Lake area; arrival of the railway; run-away children; relationship with settlers in Williams Lake region; in later years, the school became more integrated with the white community; illnesses at the Mission school. CALL NUMBER: T3533:0003 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Reminiscences of a missionary sister in British Columbia RECORDED: [location unknown], 1980-07-08 SUMMARY: [No content summary available for this tape.] NOTE: This tape (and interview) end with an abrupt cut-off.

The series consists of five different theses about the utilization of fish and other marine animals by Indigenous peoples in British Columbia. The theses examine the different types of fish, their importance to Indigenous culture, how they are caught, and methods of preparation. The theses were created between 1974 and 1976, mostly by Dorothy Kennedy, but also with the assistance of Randy Bouchard. These theses are photocopies of the originals. See file list for further information.

RECORDED: [location unknown], 1964-11-07 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mrs. Tracie Williams describes the old stories and beliefs of the Shuswap Indians of the East Kootenays. She begins by describing her devotion to her grandmother; how her great-grandfather brought the Shuswaps to Kinbasket Lake; the Kootenays used to be a hunter's paradise; the Kootenay Indians always wanted to fight at first; always thought they were superior; women pulled the plows before there were horses; many old Shuswaps had 'magic powers' including her grandmother; a Catholic priest was the first white person her grandmother knew. TRACK 2: Mrs. Williams continues with a story about a 106 year old woman who claimed an old man with 'the power' saved her life three times with his magic; Indians would trade their farms; they used to sell wheat to river steamers; various stories describing Indians' endurance and magical powers; a Shuswap song; English is a dead language to her; Shuswap is a picture language and hard to translate.