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History of Fort Nelson First Nation of British Columbia


A bizzare event took place at the Fort Nelson First Nation Region in 1909 that is probably related to the forced relocations of many of chief Rocky Boys Montana Ojibwa Subjects in 1909. Below are google maps photos of Fort Nelson Reserve. Fort Nelson was a quite location until 1909 when an unknown people (white historians insist that they were an Upper Hay River People or a Slavey People or Beaver People who had signed Treaty 8 almost a decade earlier) who were trespassing on the land of the Sekani and Slaves of the Fort Nelson Region. Northeast British Columbia was included as Treaty 8 land yet for some reason Treaty 8 officials didn't bother to visit Fort Nelson to obtain signatures of leaders to adhere to Treaty 8. Northeast British Columbia west of Peace River, was the territory of the Beaver Tribe (the Assiniboine and Cree) who did not care for the land yet only themselves and fur bearing animals. To make their living they hunted and trapped. If northeast British Columbia was included as Treaty 8 land they had to visit all major locations troughout Treaty 8 Territory to obtain signatures to Treaty 8 including northeast British Columbia. That did not happen!



Fort St. John was built in 1794 by Americans and Russians by funding from North West Trading Company. It's original location was southwest of where Fort St. John is now. That be south of Peace River. In 1821, Hudson Bay Company took over ownership of Fort St. John which was located a couple of blocks from the mouth of Beatton River which is 18 miles southeast of the current Fort St. John. Caution must be used because Beatton River was originally named Pine River. Almost directly south of current Fort St. John is the mouth of Pine River which is a tributary of Peace River. Between 1823 and 1860 Fort St. John was not in operation. It's possible Ojibwa Soldiers forced the whites to leave the Fort St. John region. In 1860, a new Fort St. John was built on the south side of Peace River. In 1872, they relocated Fort St. John north of Peace River. Fort St. John did not request of Ojibwa's to their west to attend Treaty 8 negotiations because they refused. Fort St. John represented the Beaver Tribe (the Assiniboine and Cree) between Fort St. John to south of Fort Nelson. At Fort Nelson, they represented the Beaver Tribe (the Assiniboine and Cree) from south of Fort Nelson to the Northwest Territories border. Land from the Rocky Mountains east to Peace River at northeast British Columbia was involved. Leaders of the Beaver Tribe (Assiniboine and Cree) didn't care for the land. However, they certainly cared for fur bearing animals because that's how they made their living. Ceding land was nothing to them. What was important to them was fur bearing animals which they hunted and trapped and were paid by the European Forts and Trade Posts of that region. By 1900, all Treaty 8 land was considered ceded except Reserves. So why did historians list the Fort Nelson natives as non treaty? They meant the Beaver Tribe (the Assiniboine and Cree) ceded all land west of Peace River to the Rocky Mountains. From where Peace River is just west of Hudson Hope, the boundary followed the foothills of the Rocky Mountains to Fort Nelson then followed Fort Nelson River to where Liard Rivers mouth is then up to the Northwest Territories border. Instead of Reserves they demanded rights to hunt and trap throughout the land they ceded. We do know Treaty 8 officials had much difficulties with Ojibwa's west of Fort St. John yet in 1900 a few from the Beaver Tribe (the Assiniboine and Cree) of the Fort St. John Region signed Treaty 8. They had to live north of Fort St. John. Ojibwa leaders were there and let their intentions be known. Visiting Fort Nelson had to be mandatory to authentic land ceded yet apparently they ignored Fort Nelson. However, at both locations (Fort Nelson and Fort St. John) the Beaver Tribe (the Assiniboine and Cree) ceded all land in exchange for hunting and trapping privileges. Authentic Ojibwa leaders rejected the land ceded at northeast British Columbia. Since 1872, the whites had built up a strong military presence between Fort Nelson and Fort St. John. That made the Beaver Tribe (the Assiniboine and Cree) of the Fort Nelson and Fort St. John Region strong as well. Strong enough to extend their power to Lesser Slave Lake.



They're concealing historical information intended to persuade the public of the 1909 incident at Fort Nelson as being fact. In November 1909, chief Rocky Boys Montana Ojibwa Subjects had been rounded up for forced relocations. Supposedly Helena was the only location they were sent to to await forced relocations yet other Montana cities were also used to contain chief Rocky Boys Montana Ojibwa's until they were forcefully relocated. It's obvious one location they were forcefully relocated to is northeast British Columbia. Anywhere from 500 to 1,000 Montana Ojibwa's were forcefully relocated to northeast British Columbia. Many refused to adhere to Treaty 8 or were admitted to Treaty 8. At Fort Nelson, the predicament was serious enough to send Commissioner H.A. Conroy to Fort Nelson to negotiate with the unknown people to bring them in to Treaty 8. Historians are depicting the natives of Fort Nelson as never signing Treaty 8 and the trespassers as signatories to Treaty 8. However, the Beaver Tribe (the Assiniboine and Cree) of Fort Nelson did sign Treaty 8 and ceded their land. Hunting and trapping privileges was all they demanded! Several locations at north Alberta also had groups of Ojibwa's who rejected Treaty 8 or were admitted to Treaty 8. Chipewyan Lake, Loon Lake, Peerless Lake, Sandy Lake and Trout Lake were some of the locations at north Alberta where Ojibwa's supposedly rejected Treaty 8. Instead of selecting one location to hold Treaty 8 negotiations with highest ranking Ojibwa leaders (they were from each of the six major Ojibwa Totems) Canada resorted to sending their Representatives to major forts and trading posts throughout Treaty 8 land. That was illegal. When nations make treaties, one location where leaders from each nation attend to negotiate is very normal. Canada refused to even recognize Ojibwa People as being native to Treaty 8 land. Ojibwa People have lived there for 1,000's of years.



Conroy did convince many of the unknown people to adhere to Treaty 8 on August 15, 1910 yet many rejected and took off for the mountains. Conroy wrote down that 126 people from the unknown people had accepted Treaty 8. On August 4, 1911 more people from the unknown people accepted Treaty 8. They numbered 98. Their total population at Fort Nelson was 224. However, many rejected and made for the nearby mountains which Conroy could not ignore. In 1913, Conroy estimated 500 people from the unknown people were living near Fort Grahame and other parts of the northwest part of Treaty 8 land. He needed to negotiate with them yet they rejected. Conroy reported that 100 people from the unknown people settled at Moberly Lake and they needed to be brought into Treaty 8. Never did they sign Treaty 8 yet the Saulteau Ojibwa's of Moberly Lake were admitted to Treaty 8. In 1914, Conroy reported that a group of Stony People had been traveling throughout the mountains for 4 years before they settled at Moberly Lake.



Several groups of Ojibwa's who left the Fort Nelson region in 1909 and 1910, reached the Fort Grahame region and further west and have never accepted Treaty 8. Conroy named them the Finlay River Band, Fort Grahame Band (they're Liard River Ojibwa's), Fort Ware Band (aka Ingenika and Finlay River), Liard River Band and McLeod Lake Band. The Liard River Ojibwa's settled the land from Liards River mouth at Fort Nelson River west to the mouth of Dease River then follows Dease River to Dease River, British Columbia. All of extreme northeast British Columbia to the Northwest Territories border. Finlay River Ojibwa's settled from Parsnip River north to where it abruptly turns west then south to Thutade Lake. McLeod Lake Ojibwa's (they're really the Saulteau Ojibwa Band) settled from Moberly Lake to Pine River on the south and Peace River on the north. At Pine River they settled from south of Moberly Lake then west and south to Azouzetta, British Columbia then southwest to Parsnip River which might be Finlay River. From Hudsons Hope, British Colombia they settled the Peace River region west to Finlay River which today is dammed up and the reservoir named Williston Lake. They built a dam at Peace River named W.A.C. Bennett Dam. It created Willistion Lake to the west. It's probable Tsimshian People are Ojibwa's who are related to the Saulteau Ojibwa's of Moberly Lake. Ingenika River Ojibwa's settled from Finlay River west and southwest to Tsimshian Territory. We don't know when Tsimshian People first settled where they live now. We do know they migrated west to where they live now from a cursed land as they defined their original territory. We know 224 Ojibwa's did accept Treaty 8 at Fort Nelson. We have to follow evidence along the trail as prophesy instructs. Treaty 8 land at British Columbia covers a large area of land. It's an isolated location which many of chief Rocky Boys Montana Ojibwa Subjects took kindly to. In fact, that's why many rejected treaty!



According to 2021's census, Fort Nelson First Nation Reserve has a population of 419. If, in fact, chief Rocky Boys Montana Ojibwa Subjects settle there in 1909 and 1910, they make up the majority of the population. In 1910, they reported that 224 of the unknown people were set aside a Reserve near Fort Nelson and in 110 years their population has not doubled. There are 203 dwellings with 179 lived in. Average household size is 2.3 persons per household which is below normal for Ojibwa communities. According to 2021's census, 70 people speak an Athabascan language. Whites are trying to assimilate Ojibwa's of Fort Nelson First Nation Reserve. The white city of Fort Nelson is about a mile northwest of this Reserve! In 1910, Ojibwa's used Muskwa River (Bear River) to leave the Fort Nelson Region. Sekani People (the Assiniboine and Cree) were allies of whites. No different were they from the Beaver Tribe (the Assiniboine and Cree). This following information will help you learn important information! There are no Cree First Nations at Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec. Cree People are the Athabascan Beaver Tribe. This information will help to educate you! Look at the 18th century maps below! Instead of south to north they are southeast to northwest. Churchill River is a boundary. A few Assiniboine and Cree lived west of Lake Winnipeg but were driven to the northwest by 1800 by Ojibwa Soldiers. Churchill River was a boundary used in the 18th century. From Churchill, Manitoba to South Indian Lake, Manitoba to Sandy Bay, Saskatchewan to Buffalo Narrows, Saskatchewan where the source of Churchill River is, this river flows for 1,000 miles. It's source is Churchill Lake, Saskatchewan. All land north of Churchill River is Chipewyan land. Chipewyan is the correct pronunciation of O Chib-bwan (O Jib Bwan) or Chib-bwan which means "The Originals and Originals in Ojibwa Language." Fort Nelson is located west of Peace River or the land of the Beaver Tribe (the Assiniboine and Cree). We know many of chief Rocky Boys Montana Ojibwa Subjects were relocated to British Columbia in 1909 and 1910! Fort Nelson First Nation belongs to them!



Fort Nelson (Muskwa) Satellite Image

Fort Nelson From Road

Fort Nelson From Road

Fort Nelson From Road

Fort Nelson From Road

Fort Nelson From Road

Fort Nelson From Road

Fort Nelson From Road

Fort Nelson From Road

Fort Nelson From Road

















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