Fort Babine is an unincorporated community that borders the Skeena and Omineca regions of central
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Situated in the Pacific Northwest between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains, the province has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that ...
. This
First Nations
First nations are indigenous settlers or bands.
First Nations, first nations, or first peoples may also refer to:
Indigenous groups
*List of Indigenous peoples
*First Nations in Canada, Indigenous peoples of Canada who are neither Inuit nor Mé ...
settlement is on the east shore of the Babine River at the northern tip of Babine Lake. By road, the location is about northeast of Smithers.
Forts
In 1822, on the north bank, where the lake forms two arms, the
Hudson's Bay Company
The Hudson's Bay Company (HBC), originally the Governor and Company of Adventurers of England Trading Into Hudson’s Bay, is a Canadian holding company of department stores, and the oldest corporation in North America. It was the owner of the ...
(HBC) founded the Babine Establishment (later known as Fort Kilmaurs, then Old Fort). Neither William Brown (who was in charge), nor John Stuart (his superior) undertook the proposed exploration that year of the Babine River out to the coast or the Chilcotin area, because motivation and manpower were lacking. The next year, under Brown were 1 clerk and a 5-man crew. During 1824–1826, Brown was able to explore to the coast.
Leather was a scarce trading commodity, because moose had not yet entered the region. The HBC obtained moose hides from trading districts east of the
Canadian Rockies
The Canadian Rockies () or Canadian Rocky Mountains, comprising both the Alberta Rockies and the British Columbian Rockies, is the Canadian segment of the North American Rocky Mountains. It is the easternmost part of the Canadian Cordillera, w ...
. The Babine-Wet'suwet'en desired high quality leather for funeral ceremonies, whereas the
Dakelh
The Dakelh (pronounced ) or Carrier are a First Nations in Canada, First Nations Indigenous peoples of the Americas, Indigenous people living a large portion of the British Columbia Interior, Central Interior of British Columbia, Canada. The Dakel ...
used leather mainly for making clothing and sturdy
moccasin
A moccasin is a shoe, made of deerskin or other soft leather, consisting of a sole (made with leather that has not been "worked") and sides made of one piece of leather, stitched together at the top, and sometimes with a vamp (additional pane ...
s, essential for hunting expeditions that procured furs to trade. First Nations would often refuse to trade if no leather was available at an HBC post. The demand was so great that it might be the sole item described among a general shipment of supplies.
In 1926, Joseph McGillivray replaced Brown, supervising 1 clerk and a 6-man crew. Supplies came northwestward by canoe from Fort St. James via the Babine Portage, while salmon returned southeastward. From the 1820s to the 1900s, the Babine Lake fisheries played a significant role.
In 1830, poor trading returns were recorded. To attract the Babine trade going elsewhere, the fort was relocated northward in 1836 from a village of about 150 people to a more centralized site and renamed Fort Babine. Under the charge of mixed-race William McBean, the old fort had been in a state of disrepair. McBean was also a
lay preacher
A lay preacher is a preacher who is not ordained (i.e. a layperson) and who may not hold a formal university degree in theology. Lay preaching varies in importance between religions and their sects.
Overview
Some denominations specifically disco ...
, who proclaimed a hybrid religion.
In 1842, William Morwick, who replaced McBean, was assigned the lower title of postmaster. Through his interpreter Charles Toin, Morwick had a heated argument six weeks later with a Babine man, who wanted to trade
caribou
The reindeer or caribou (''Rangifer tarandus'') is a species of deer with circumpolar distribution, native to Arctic, subarctic, tundra, boreal, and mountainous regions of Northern Europe, Siberia, and North America. It is the only represe ...
meat for animal skins. When the negotiation over price resumed the next day, Toin challenged the man to a
duel
A duel is an arranged engagement in combat between two people with matched weapons.
During the 17th and 18th centuries (and earlier), duels were mostly single combats fought with swords (the rapier and later the small sword), but beginning in ...
with pistols. When the man indicated his preference for a knife fight, Toin stepped backward, fired his pistol and lacerated the man's arm. In response, the man stabbed Toin in the arm. A false report that Morwick had shot the man to death prompted a relative to fatally shoot Morwick in the head. On news reaching Fort St. James, an 11-man
posse
Posse is a shortened form of posse comitatus, a group of people summoned to assist law enforcement. The term is also used colloquially to mean a group of friends or associates.
Posse may also refer to:
Arts and entertainment
* ''Posse'' (1975 ...
under McBean hunted the perpetrator, who was shot dead on peacefully surrendering. After reparations were made, Duncan E. Cameron took charge of the fort, and McBean departed for his next posting.
Fearful of being drawn into inter-tribal unrest, Cameron resigned in 1845. His replacement D. McLean equally understood the vulnerability of his small 3-man crew. Peace came the next year, when Catholic missionary Father John Nobili stayed 12 days and returned for a few months in 1847.
In charge of the fort were Thomas Charles by 1850 and Gavin Hamilton by 1864.
By 1867, external and internal competition (such as the new HBC Ackwilgate post) (Roucher de Bouille) diminished returns.
In 1891, administrative oversight of the fort transferred from the New Caledonia to the Port Simpson district.
Portage from Hazelton
During the
Omineca Gold Rush
The Omineca Gold Rush was a gold rush in British Columbia, Canada, in the Omineca Country, Omineca region of the Northern Interior of the province. Gold was first discovered there in 1861, but the rush did not begin until late in 1869 with the disc ...
, Capt. William Moore improved an old First Nations trail in 1871, which connected Hazelton (then known as the Forks) and Fort Babine. Over the following years, freight for the fort began coming via the
Skeena River
The Skeena River is the second-longest river entirely within British Columbia, Canada (after the Fraser River). Since ancient times, the Skeena has been an important transportation artery, particularly for the Tsimshian and the Gitxsan—whose na ...
to The Forks, followed by a
portage
Portage or portaging ( CA: ; ) is the practice of carrying water craft or cargo over land, either around an obstacle in a river, or between two bodies of water. A path where items are regularly carried between bodies of water is also called a '' ...
. In 1876, delays resulted in a late arrival and diminished trade at the fort. From 1879, Fort St. James freight also largely came via the Skeena.
By 1889 the HBC contracted Vieth and Borland to operate the packtrains on the Hazelton–Babine portage. In 1897, the HBC were the only party interested in buying the endeavour for $4,760. In 1902, the HBC sold the operation to
Cataline
Jean-Jacques Caux, known as Cataline, was the most famous mule Moving company, packer of the Canadian West.
Biography
Jean Jacques Caux, known as Cataline, was born in rural southern France around 1830, most likely in a town called Oloron in the ...
for $3,960, which comprised 46 mules and 4 horses. By 1905, he had recovered his investment. This packtrain trail ascended via the Bulkley and Suskwa rivers, transited the pass over the Babine Range, and descended to Babine Lake.
Earlier communities
Since gambling distracted the indigenous people from engaging in hunting, the HBC endeavoured to discourage this practice from the 1820s to 1890.
A 1906 observation noted the importance to this indigenous village of salmon catches, which were both the chief staple and barter commodity. A pile bridge spanned the river to the village on the northeast side, which comprised 30 log houses and a Roman Catholic (RC) church. Sited southeast of the reserve, an HBC post supplied Fort St. James on Stuart Lake, McLeod Lake, and Fort Grahame. The post comprised a store, warehouse, residence, and several log cabins to accommodate travellers in summer and miners in winter. A trail northeast led to Takla Lake.
The RC church administered a day school 1913–1959. New church buildings were erected at Fort Babine and Old Fort in 1915 and 1925 respectively.
Maps
* New Caledonia map. 1904.
*
*
* Former HBC forts in the area. 2011.
* Babine reserves in the area. 2015.
Later communities
In 1957, the
Department of Indian Affairs
Department may refer to:
* Departmentalization, division of a larger organization into parts with specific responsibility
Government and military
* Department (administrative division), a geographical and administrative division within a country, ...
did not consult band members when administratively merging the Old Fort Band and Fort Babine Band, which formed what is now known as the Lake Babine Nation (LBN).
Fort Babine
The Fort Babine Indian Reserve #6 is a small community inhabited year round. The traditional name is "Wit'at," which is an abbreviated form of "Wit'ane Keh," meaning "place of making dry fish" in the Nadut'en language. Many LBN members visit over the summer months to obtain their annual salmon supply, which is cured in family
smokehouse
A smokehouse (North American) or smokery (British) is a building where meat or fish is curing (food preservation), cured with Smoking (cooking), smoke. The finished product might be stored in the building, sometimes for a year or more.
Constructed in the 1970s, the narrow Nilkitkwa forestry service road provides the only vehicle access. That decade, the HBC store closed.
In 1999, the new elementary school opened. Transmission lines were installed by
BC Hydro
The British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority, trade name, operating as BC Hydro, is a Canadian electric utility in the province of British Columbia. It is the main electricity distributor, serving more than 4 million customers in most areas, wi ...
in the 1980s and by Telus in 2006. That year, a water treatment plant was completed.
The UNBC began archaeological excavations in 2010. The hundreds of artifacts uncovered, which date to over a thousand years ago, indicate the longevity and continued presence of the community.
In 2014, the province gave the LBN the existing Fort Babine Lodge, $100,000, and additional land to develop tourism.
Unemployment is high, but a 2015 community survey found social development (29%) as the perceived key need. This encompassed a desire for more people living in the community and improved educational opportunities and support services. Governance (21%) was also identified, indicating a strong desire to be separate from Woyenne resolutions.
Old Fort
The Old Fort Indian Reserve #13 is inhabited mostly during summer and fall. The traditional name is Nedo'ats. Families return to fish and hunt at this important site, which is accessible only by boat.
The survey found infrastructure (31%) as the paramount need. The erection of cabins, a community centre, and shower/bathhouses, would facilitate visitors and enable permanent residence.