Time of the Flood? Many Heiltsuk oral traditions, including those for Húy̓at, refer to flood times. These could be in reference to early post-glacial sea level changes or later tsunami events.
C̓uṃ́qlaqs comes to Húy̓at.
Triquet Island. Oldest dated archaeological site in Heiltsuk territory.
Establishment of look-out sites on northern Hunter.
Smallpox on the Central Coast of British Columbia. (Boyd 1990)
(Boyd 1990:137)
1775-1801
1793
First recorded mention by Europeans of Heiltsuk.
(Hilton 1990:319)
Hudson Bay Company built fur trading post at McLoughlin Bay, at "Old Town" (as it is known today). While the Heiltsuk congregated around the fort, there were still key villages in the vicinity and people moved from winter villages to spring and summer camps, presumably including Húy̓at.
(Hilton 1990:319)
1833
1834
Tolmie in his journals mentions the names of three chiefs and describes their houses.
Heiltsuk population declined by as much as 80 percent because of smallpox and other pandemic diseases. Total population estimated to be approximately 1600.
(Hilton 1990:320)
1835-1889
1843
Hudson Bay Co. fort in Old Town abandoned, dismantled, and moved to Victoria.
(Hobler 2000:10)
(Hilton 1990:320)
Smallpox outbreak among Heiltsuk led to further dramatic population declines; considerable movement of the Heiltsuk, including into Húy̓at and relocation to Old Bella Bella.
1862-1863
1867
(Hilton 1990:320)
The British North American Act (aka the Constitution Act) created the Federal Government of Canada, which, under “section 91(24) granted the Parliament of Canada legislative authority over ‘Indians, and Lands reserved for the Indians’”.
Many of the Heiltsuk village groups were amalgamating in “Old Town”.
(Hobler 2000:13-16)
McLoughlin Bay/Old Town
1870
The Indian Act was passed, governing how the Canadian state interacts with First Nations in Canada.
(Flanagan et al. 2011:66)
The Indian Act 1876
1876
The Indian Act was passed, governing how the Canadian state interacts with First Nations in Canada.
The Indian Act 1876
Missionaries to Bella Bella.
1880's
Missionaries to Bella Bella.
19 reserves apportioned to the Heiltsuk including Húy̓at.
Location of the Bella Bella Indian Reserve no. 1
1881
19 reserves apportioned to the Heiltsuk including Húy̓at.
(Heiltsuk Cultural Education Centre 2017)
Location of the Bella Bella Indian Reserve No. 1.
Heiltsuk population down to 200 people.
1882
Heiltsuk population down to 200 people.
Potlatch Law outlawing the potlatch.
1884
Potlatch Law outlawing the potlatch.
(Kew 1990:162)
Howeet No. 8 (Húy̓at) and other reserves surveyed.
(Pomeroy 1980:50)
Land survey map of northern Hunter Island.
1888
1890
Heiltsuk children started to attend residential schools.
St. Michaels Residential School in Alert Bay. Many Heiltsuk children attended this school.
The Bella Bella Heiltsuk were established in Old Town. However, they continued to visit seasonally their traditional harvesting areas, such as Húy̓at.
(Hobler 2000:15-16)
Old Bella Bella
1890
Drag seining allowed by Canadian government at IR 8 and other reserves leading to local depletions.
1893
Drag seining allowed by the Canadian government at Howeet Indian Reserve No. 8 (Húy̓at) and other reserves leading to local depletion.
(Hobler 2000:16-17)
Fishery regulation banning First Nations from catching fish in fish traps. “No Indian shall spear, trap, or pen fish on their spawning grounds or in any place leased or set apart for the natural or artificial propagation of fish, or in any other place otherwise specially reserved”.
(Harris 2001:72).
1894
Fishery regulation banning First Nations from catching fish in fish traps. “No Indian shall spear, trap, or pen fish on their spawning grounds or in any place leased or set apart for the natural or artificial propagation of fish, or in any other place otherwise specially reserved”.
1898-1899
Beginning late 1890’s through early 1900’s, all the people moved from Old Town to the present village of Waglisla, approximately 3 km to the north of Old Town.
Surveys of reserves and “private land”.
(Cail 1974:304; cited in Kew 1990:160)
1905
Surveys of reserves and “private land”.
1913
McKenna-McBride Reserve Commission established “to effect ‘a final adjustment of all matters relating to Indian Affairs in the Province’”.
Members of the McKenna-McBride Reserve Commission.
(Heiltsuk Cultural Education Centre 2017)
Heiltsuk leaders attended the McKenna-McBride Reserve Commission hearings in Bella Bella to express their concerns about the loss of their traditional resource gathering areas. The Chairman of the Commission replied that they were only interested in discussing the existing reserves.
1913
Heiltsuk leaders attended the McKenna-McBride Reserve Commission hearings in Bella Bella to express their concerns about the loss of their traditional resource gathering areas. The Chairman of the Commission replied that they were only interested in discussing the existing reserves.
1913
Icelanders moved into Húy̓at for approximately 10 years. Heiltsuk continued to fish, hunt, and gather there.
Icelandic settlers harvesting hay in Húy̓at
End of drag seining at Howeet Indian Reserve No. 8 (Húy̓at).
1920
End of drag seining at IR 8.
Traplines registered in Húy̓at.
1930’s
Traplines registered in Húy̓at.
Through the temporary surrender process, Heiltsuk approved logging on six reserves, including Howeet No.8 (Húy̓at). They asked that revenue from logging Húy̓at go towards a lighting plant in Bella Bella.
1935
Through the temporary Surrender process, Heiltsuk approved logging on 6 reserves, including Howeet No.8. They asked that revenue from logging Húy̓at go towards a lighting plant at Bella Bella.
Albert Humchitt’s camp in Húy̓at was rebuilt.
~1940
Albert Humchitt’s camp in Húy̓at was rebuilt.
Potlatch ban was lifted in a revision of the Indian Act.
(Kew 1990:167)
1951
Potlatch ban was lifted in a revision of the Indian Act.
Department of Fisheries and Oceans gave notice that no more smokehouses would be allowed in Húy̓at. This resulted in the dismantling (or burning) of the houses.
1955
Department of Fisheries and Oceans gave notice that no more smokehouses would be allowed in Húy̓at. This resulted in the dismantling (or burning) of the houses.
Formation of Tribal Councils in BC.
(Kew 1990:167)
1970’s
Formation of Tribal Councils in BC.
Last residential school is closed in British Columbia.
1984
Last residential school is closed in British Columbia.
(Kinckerbocker 2015:5)
Gíƛa Elroy White completes his MA thesis on stone fish traps in Heiltsuk territory, including Húy̓at.
2006
Gíƛa Elroy Whitecompletes his MA Thesis on stone fish traps in Heiltsuk territory.
(Kinckerbocker 2015:5)
Ottawa accepted Heiltsuk Specific Claim re Drag Seining and Trespass on Reserves for negotiation. Heiltsuk had to agree not to pursue damages for impact on salmon stream at Húyat.
2010
Ottawa accepted Heiltsuk specific claim re 'Drag Seining and Trespass on Reserves' for negotiation. Heiltsuk had to agree not to pursue damages for impact on salmon stream at Húy̓at.
