This May 1908 photo (by North Vancouver photographers Elliott and Baglow) shows a delegation of First Nations leaders on the North Vancouver Ferry Wharf prior to leaving for Ottawa to see Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier.
Two years earlier, in August 1906, Skwxwú7mesh Chief Joe Capilano and other Coast Salish leaders went to England to present to the Crown the case for a renewed look at the state of Indigenous lands and the needs of the First Nations communities on the B.C coast.
In 1908, a second, larger delegation (shown here), led again by Sa7plek (Chief Joe Capilano), fifth from left, went to Ottawa to speak with the prime minister about the same concerns. Land claims, fishing and hunting rights, and education were on the agenda.
Also identified in this photo is William Nahanee Sr. at the extreme right and Chief Harry (Waiwakum) is the diminutive man, front centre.
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Currently, the Archives of North Vancouver at 3203 Institute Rd. in Lynn Valley is open by appointment only. Contact: archives@dnv.org.
