Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Public Offices document
Shepherd,John to Labouchere, Henry 5 June 1856, CO 305:7, no. 5017, 358.
Abstract
Public Offices document.
Minutes (2), Enclosures (untranscribed) (1), Other documents (1).
This document contains mentions of Indigenous Peoples. The authors of these documents
often perpetuate a negative perspective of Indigenous Peoples and it is important
to look critically at these mentions. They sometimes use terminology that is now considered
hurtful and offensive. To learn more about modern terminology pertaining to Indigenous
Peoples, Indigenous ways of knowing, and decolonization, please refer to the Glossary of terms.
CO staff discuss the death toll of the so-called
Indian Wars.
File includes draft from Colonial Office to Shepherd, acknowledging receipt of the despatch; and an extract from despatch between Mactavish and HBC discussing death toll of the
Indian Wars.
Shepherd to Labouchere
Hudson's Bay House
June 5th 1856
Sir
I have the honor to enclose for your information Extract of a
letter received by last mail from Dugald Mactavish Esqre, the
Hudson's Bay Companys Agent in Oregon, dated Vancouver, Washington
Territory, 5th April 1856, giving a further report of the progress of
the Indian war in that country.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Sinclair & 18 others killed.
Other documents included in the file
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Extract, Mactavish to Secretary of the Hudson's Bay
Company, 5 April 1856, reporting the death of company servant
James Sinclair and "eighteen other citizens" by a group of Indigenous peoples.