SS 8 - Colonization 04 – European Contact in BC

European Contact in British Columbia

European contact in British Columbia prior to Captain James Cook, was an interesting combination of Spanish, Russian and British exploration in what is often referred to as the Pacific Northwest. Like much of the exploration that was happening in Eastern Canada, furs and a search for a fabled Northwest Passage trade route to Asia would be the primary motives for contact with Aboriginal people on BC’s west coast.

Spanish Exploration of BC

The Spanish had being exploring most of the Pacific coast of the Americas since Magellan famously made his way “around the Horn” in 1520. The Spanish would create settlements up and down South and Central America and as far as modern day California, but would only send a few expeditions as far north as British Columbia. One such explorer was a Greek captain by the name of Juan de Fuca who sailed for Spain in the 1590’s. The strait that separates Vancouver Island from the mainland is called the Juan de Fuca strait to this day. There are many other islands scattered throughout the coastal BC that have Spanish names. Islands like the San Juan Island, Saturna, Galiano, Gabriola and Texada are all Spanish names and are evidence of their presence in BC.

Russia, Sea Otters and the Northwest Passage

Although it would be the British who would eventually come to possess what is now British Columbia, aside from the Spanish, there were other competing European interests in BC. Russians in particular, were drawn to BC for its abundance of sea otter furs. The fur of the sea otter was highly valued in China. Russian explorers would trade for furs off the coast of BC and Alaska, and then sail across to China where they exchanged the furs for silks, tea, spices and sometimes even Chinese silver.

Vitrus Bering who made two expeditions to the Pacific Northwest in 1725 and in 1733, was a Russian employed Dutch explorer. Bering is now famous for having the Bering Strait named after him. The Bering Strait is the body of water that separates North America and Asia, and its existence fueled the speculation of the fabled Northwest Passage which many Europeans believed and hoped would be the northern route around the top of North America. Spain still controlled most of the Southern Pacific so there was considerable interest in finding a new western route to the Pacific from Europe.

British Exploration Comes Late

The British really didn’t come in numbers to the Pacific Northwest until after 1778 with the arrival of James Cook. Britain was lured to the region as word got out of the money that could be made by trading West coast aboriginals for sea otter pelts, then trading the pelts for China goods and then returning to England with a ship full of silks, spices and Chinese goods. With the expansion of the Pacific sea otter trade, the quest for an ice-free Northwest Passage, free of Spanish interference became even more important for Britain. It would be Cook and another famous British explorer by the name of George Vancouver who would finally put to rest the idea that there existed an ice-free Northwest Passage over the top of North America.

Contact with BC Indigenous Groups

Some of the first BC aboriginal groups who made contact with Europeans were largely hunter-gathers, meaning that they did not have to rely upon agriculture to survive in large numbers. The Pacific Northwest, with its relatively mild climate, abundance of sea food and edible plants gave rise to a number of indigenous groups that could be successful without farming. The Haida and the Nookta are two great examples of indigenous groups from the Pacific Northwest who were not only able to live a subsistence lifestyle by living off the land, but had time and the ability to devote to the development of a sophisticated culture that they could represent in art.

Far from the European depiction of a “noble savage”, the indigenous groups of the Pacific Northwest developed a strong sense of identity with traditions and were able to reflect that in art. They were often quick to grasp the economic advantages presented to them with the arrival of the Europeans, and from their perspective, were able to obtain highly valued goods like iron, metal tools and weapons, for the seemingly cheap price of an abundance of furs. Quick to take advantage of trade alliances, the indigenous people of the Pacific Northwest made good use of their European trading partners.

Like other contacts with European colonialists, the indigenous groups of BC would fall victim to the “gun boat diplomacy” where European military technology like cannon and muskets would result in indigenous groups falling under control of Europeans. And like the indigenous groups of Mesoamerica, diseases, would decimate their numbers.

SS 8 - Colonization 04 – European Contact in BC

European Contact in British Columbia

Directions: READthe handout entitled; “European Contact in British Columbia” and then answer the following questions;

  1. Use your handout, the internet or a dictionary to provide definitions for the following terms; (1 mk each)

Northwest PassageBering StraitHunter-Gatherers

Haida and NootkaGun Boat Diplomacy

2. On a separate piece of paper, answer the following questions using COMPLETE

SENTENCES;

  1. In your own words, describe who were the first Europeans to explore the west coast of British Columbia and describe what their primary motive was for being there? (2 mks for quality of response and inclusion of details)
  1. In your own words, describe what evidence there is in BC today that would indicate the presence of Spanish explorers in the past. What European is credited for discovering the strait, or body of water that separates Asia from North America? (2 mks for the quality of your response and evidence of thought and effort)
  1. In your own words, provide an example as to why the indigenous people of BC can be considered to be good traders with the Europeans? How were the experiences with European traders in BC be similar to European contact with the indigenous groups of Mesoamerica? (2 mks for quality of response and evidence of insight)

3. Haida Art – Color the following Haida depiction of a Raven

You will be marked out of 5 for quality of work,

and evidence of effort.

Total: ____ /16