Vancouver Island Census Districts
New Westminster (187)
Enumerated Records: 1215
In the 1881 census, the northern end of Vancouver Island was enumerated as a sub-district of Census District 187 (New Westminster). District 187, sub-district D-4 extended from Quatsino Sound on the northwest coast, up to Cape Scott and down along the northeast coast to the entrance of Johnstone Strait. The Kwakwakwakawakw people, also known as Kwawkewelth and Kwakiutl, are enumerated here. This sub-district formed part of the Kwawkewlth Indian Agency. The sub-district was enumerated by George Blenkinsop, the Dominion government Indian Agent. On the northern end of Vancouver Island, Blenkinsop identified fourteen separate "tribes" and nearly four hundred households or families. He also recorded half a dozen non-native households - including his own - at Fort Rupert and Alert Bay on Cormorant Island. In this database, we have used the term "band" instead of "tribe." However, we have retained Blenkinsop's spelling of band names and band members.
Fort Rupert (D5)
Enumerated Records: 23
Fort Rupert was a Hudson's Bay Company settlement located near present-day Port Hardy. It was the headquarters for the Kwawkewlth Indian Agency. Indian Agent George Blenkinsop resided here, along with Anglican missionaries.