Watch "The Great Land Grab of Vancouver Island • An Interview with Robert Morales" 5 minute interview with Robert Morales, Chief Negotiator for the Hul’qumi’num First Nations Treaty Group, about the E&N Railway Land Grants of 1887 and the lasting repercussions of this massive “land grab” for the Hul’qumi’num people today. (
more about this film)
"Robert Morales represents the six Hul’qumi’num First Nations (Cowichan, Chemainus, Penelakut, Lyackson, Halalt, Lake Cowichan), whose territories span the southeastern coast of Vancouver Island. These lands were almost entirely sold off by the Federal government in 1887 to coal baron Robert Dunsmuir, in order to finance the construction of the E&N Railroad from Nanaimo to Victoria, which enabled BC and Vancouver Island to join confederation and become part of Canada.
To this day, there are Hul’qumi’num elders who still don’t know how that happened, how they lost their rights to the land. The Hul’qumi’num First Nations never ceded these lands and were never consulted or compensated. Over the years, the lands have changed hands many times amongst various corporate owners. Today they are mostly owned by the “Big Three” private timber companies:
TimberWest, Island Timberlands, and Hancock Timber, who are extensively
logging the last of the old-growth on these lands and flipping a good portion for real estate development.
Full article: Common Sense Canada Article:
Directed by
Daniel J. Pierce, Ramshackle Films
"With every project Ramshackle takes on—from documentary features to short web videos—we hope to elevate the consciousness of all who view our work. By initiating heart-centered cinematic experiences and targeting clients with similar values, we seek to showcase people and organizations that are leading us towards a more sustainable future."
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