Conflict

"Tensions boiled over in August 1858 when a miner raped a Nlaka'pamux woman. In response, the community killed him and dumped his body into the Fraser River. Miners organized volunteer militias to  mount a show of force."
Keith Thor Carlson, The Power of Place

[See Canyon War, British Columbia, 1858]

"Our people tried to work with them [the road workers]. When people who worked in the same camp were lining up to eat, they came out and said, "You guys hungry? You guys wanna eat? And they just threw the food down on the ground.  Our people weren't gonna eat that, so they went hunting, and they had no choice but to leave their wife and kids behind. When they were gone, the miners and all those people who got drunk back in those days messed around with the women. Your asking for war when you do that, and that’s how the war broke out."
David Setah in Lorraine Weir with Chief Roger Williams
Lha Yudith'in We Always Find a Way.

"Klatassin claimed that they were at war with the invaders, and that it was the threat of smallpox the drove their action."

Stephen Bown, Dominion The Railway and the Rise of Canada

"In the summer and fall of 1862 the Tsilhqot'in people died by the thousands. At least 70 percent of the whole population perished from one cause alone [smallpox]. . . This was a truly great calamity. . . Native people universally believed settlers had imported and spread smallpox among them for their land. . .  The British Crown hung five Tsilhqot'in officials. This was one of the most dramatic moments in all Canadian history. BC Colonial officials had chosen to pretend these Tsilhqot'in were common criminals. Murderers. The Tsilhqot'in people knew them instead as martyrs. True noble men who died serving their people by faithfully following the established law and by honorably defending the people in a just war against a proven aggressor."
Tom Swanky, The True Story of Canada's "War" of Extermination On the Pacific plus The Tsilhqot'in and other First Nations Resistance

"We meant war not murder."

War leader defence

"The Tsilhqot'in were induced by a false promise [a peace conference with the Governor]."
Matthew Baillie Begbie

"Madame Speaker, I stand here today in this Legislature, 150 years later, to say that the province of British Columbia is profoundly sorry for the wrongful arrest, trial and hanging of the six chiefs and for the many wrongs inflicted by past governments. . . Smallpox, which by some reliable historical accounts there is indication was spread intentionally. . . To the extent that it falls within the power of the province of British Columbia, we confirm without reservation that these six Tsilhqot’in chiefs are fully exonerated of any crime or wrongdoing."
Premier Christy Clark,  2014

See New France, Loyalists/War of 1812, Riel and Manitoba and Riel Rebellion themes