First Nations' plight makes it hard to fully celebrate Canada 150

Photo from National Observer
First Nations people in B.C. and across the country aren't too excited about the Canada 150 celebrations, as most of them do not have treaties. Many of them (but not all) feel planned developments such as Kinder Morgan's proposed twinning of the Trans Mountain oil pipeline will do significant damage to the lands they and their ancestors have called home for thousands of years. Despite years of favourable court rulings, governments have dragged their feet on treaties and other means of making First Nations people feel they are an integral and valued component of the Canadian mosaic.

Canada turns 150 years old this week.  Celebrations of this milestone have been somewhat muted, when compared to the 100^th anniversary in 1967 which captured the attention and interest of nearly all Canadians and many people in other countries.

It is worthwhile to remember what this country has achieved, look at where it is going and consider changes to make it better.

Surrey, Delta, White Rock and Langley have had significant moments in the past 150 years, and it’s worth remembering some of them.

In 1867, there were only a few people living in what are now these four communities. Most were First Nations people, who while nomadic at times, spent much time on or near the Fraser River or the ocean, the source of much of their food and their means of transportation. Four of the most significant First Nations living in the area were the Kwantlen, Katzie, Semiahmoo and Tsawwassen.

These people had lived here for millennia. When newcomers of European background, who first came to this area as traders and later as gold miners, arrived on their shores, they were extended a hand of friendship. First Nations people often received nothing in return.

In the worst cases, promises were made which did not materialize, and First Nations people were deliberately made sick with diseases such as smallpox, which they had never encountered. This was both terribly contagious and deadly.

Unfortunately, this set up the current situation we are in, in terms of treaties, land use and living together peaceably. The Tsawwassen treaty, ratified in 2007, was a much-needed step in the right direction and the Tsawwassen First Nation in Delta has set an example for other First Nations clustered in the urban areas of B.C.

The other three First Nations, all of whom have reserves in this area, deserve similar attention from the federal, provincial and local governments. Langley Township in particular has been reasonable attentive to this situation, but has limited powers to do anything without action from the senior governments. Surrey and White Rock have done very little, rarely even acknowledging that their cities are on unceded native land.

In White Rock's case, it has been a very poor neighbour to the Semiahmoo when it comes to water issues. This is despite the fact that Semiahmoo reserve residents have had a boil water advisory in place for over a decade. This is taking place in Canada, and involves a city where most residents have net worths in the millions of dollars. This should be an outrage.

The three school districts have done better, incorporating many First Nations traditions into the curriculum and in Surrey's case, naming a number of schools with First Nations names.

Langley Township was incorporated in 1873, two years after B.C. joined Canada. Langley City seceded from the Township in 1955.  

Surrey and Delta (White Rock didn’t become a separate city until 1957, when it seceded from Surrey) were both incorporated in 1879, eight years after the colony of B.C. became part of Canada. Surrey, Delta and Langley were rural municipalities in every sense of the word, with very limited transportation and communication options. People lived on fertile land and fed themselves, but selling the products of their farms wasn’t simple. Others were loggers or fishermen.

Numerous roads and trails were built in the early days and these form the framework of the road network today. These included Scott Road, the Semiahmoo Trail, McLellan Road, Yale Road and Telegraph Trail.

There were no bridges to New Westminster, the chief city on the mainland in 1879, or Vancouver, which first started to develop as a city in 1886. The first one was built between the Liverpool area (now Bridgeview) and New Westminster in 1904. It is still there today, used only by railways. At first it also had an upper deck for horses, buggies, farm wagons and the very occasional car.

Railways made a big difference in the early days, particularly in Surrey and Langley. The first one was built in 1891 from the U.S. border near Blaine to Liverpool, but by 1915 there were several lines operated by three companies. The arrival of the B.C. Electric interurban line in 1910 brought fast and frequent transportation to Surrey, Langley and North Delta, and also brought electricity to many areas.

Great Northern Railway’s decision to reroute its original line to a new one along the coast (it opened in 1909) led to the establishment of White Rock and Crescent Beach.

Roads were often poor until the 1940s. A new bridge, the Pattullo, opened in 1937 and served to bring people to Surrey in significant numbers. Delta had to wait to be connected with communities to the north until 1959, when the George Massey tunnel opened. Growth in Langley really began in earnest when the Port Mann bridge opened in 1964, and the Highway 1 freeway was built.

Since those connections opened, there has been almost continuous growth. It is far from over. Farming is still important, particularly in Langley Township and areas of Surrey and Delta that are within the Agricultural Land Reserve. In areas less suited for farming, development has been intense.

Surrey became a city in 1993, setting the stage for even more growth and for a change in attitude towards what many people in other areas had considered a sprawling and rambunctious non-entity. White Rock and Langley City have always been cities. Delta is about to become one. Langley Township remains a district municipality.

The future is bright, but there is plenty of work to do to ensure that all residents can fully participate in all these communities have to offer. This is most true when it comes to First Nations people who live among us. It's long past time they were made to feel that they are full and valued citizens of Canada, with a great deal to offer to the rest of us.