The effort of the Chinese-Canadian community to preserve and restore pioneers’ history made a monumental gain on March 3, when the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs threw its unequivocal support behind the “brothers and sisters” of the aboriginal peoples.

The UBCIC held a chiefs council in Vancouver this week (March 2 to 3). The UBCIC rarely invites non-aboriginals to speak or even participate in the convention, but it did invite Bill Chu—the man behind the current community effort to save Chinese-Canadian historic sites that have been left attended and exposed for over a century—to make a speech.

Chu talked about the historic close ties between Chinese pioneers and the native peoples in early settlement history. Chu also presented an account of his recent six trips to the Fraser Canyon in search for historic sites.

Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, chair of the UBCIC, urged everyone on the floor of the convention to stand up behind Chu and provide all the help he needs to do the dauntingly huge task.

Phillip described both the Chinese-Canadians and the Natives as being victims of racism of white settlers. When B.C.’s lands could be granted to individuals through a process called “pre-emption”, he said, only “Chinamen” and “Indians” were outlawed to do so.

Check out the Chinese-Canadian Genealogy Web site of the Vancouver Public Library:

B.C. Crown Land could be granted to an individual through pre-emption, a process similar to homesteading. The pre-emptor could acquire a piece of land from the government at a discounted price, or at no charge, if he made certain improvements on it. Land could also be acquired from the Crown by outright purchase, auction, or other means.

In the decades after B.C. joined Confederation in 1871, few Chinese people acquired Crown land. Initially, they had the right to do so, despite other discriminatory measures imposed on people of Chinese origin. But many Chinese immigrants had come to Canada to escape poverty in China and were very poor. Although pre-emption offered a means of obtaining Crown Land at little or no cost, it required the pre-emptor to make improvements to the property, which cost money.

The transient nature of the community also did not encourage the acquisition of land. The majority of immigrants were male—single or, if married, unaccompanied by their wives. There was a great deal of migration within B.C. and to and from the U.S. as people went to places where they could find work. Many went back to China, sometimes to stay, often to return to Canada with a family member.

In 1884, a legislative barrier to the acquisition of Crown land emerged in the form of a provincial ” Act to Prevent Chinese from Acquiring Crown Lands” (S.B.C. 1884, Chapter 2). The legislation was not repealed until 1950 (S.B.C. 1950 Chapter 37, Section 19).

It’s well known that there were a lot of cross-marriages between Chinese pioneers and the Natives. Phillip recalled in a friendship meeting between Chinese-Canadian and the Natives that he asked those who carry Chinese genes in their blood to stand up. He said over 100 out of the 600 participants stood up. Phillip thus urged all aboriginal peoples to “stand behind our brothers and sisters” to search for history.

Robert Shintah, vice chair of the UBCIC, said the sites Bill Chu had visited represented only a very small amount of the total sites in B.C. and there are many more out there waiting to be protected.

Grand Chief Edward John of the First Nations Summit, who wasn’t scheduled to speak, requested to add a few words. He said not only were the Chinese and Natives closely connected in history, but that they are also good friends in the present.

John said he and a group of Native representatives visited four cities in China last summer to promote economic cooperation. He visited China again in November and went to Sichuan to visit the earthquake victims.

John indicated that the Native peoples are planning to give earthquake victims a totem as a way to comfort them. They are working with the Chinese consulate general on this.