Unlike most local histories, which often celebrate the accomplishments of prominent settlers, Canadian census records give us a quick peek into communities as a whole.
The 1911 census is especially interesting for Cortes Island because, for the first time, all of the island’s 135 ‘settler’ entries are grouped together. Similarly, there is a segment for the 60 Klahoose First Nation residents in Squirrel Cove. There was also a second First Nation with a reserve on Cortes, but any relevant Tla’amin entries appear to be included with those from their main village to the south in what is now qathet Regional District.
Transcription of the 1911 census data – (A) Klahoose in Squirrel Cove & (B) Settlers on Cortes Island – at the bottom of this page.
The Klahoose and Tla’amin First Nations share a common ancestry, which has resulted in the modern nations having overlapping ancestral territories. Another evidence of this in the 1911 census is the fact there are ‘Harry,’ ‘Louie’ and ‘Dominick’ families among both the Klahoose and Tla’amin.
Prior to the colonial era, the Klahoose territory extended from Toba Inlet to Southern Quadra Island and down to Lund.
Most of the Indigenous residents of our area perished in a series of smallpox outbreaks, the most deadly of which broke out fifty years prior to 1911. The survivors were herded onto reserves, which in the case of the Klahoose amounted to less than 1% of their traditional territory. This was land owned by the Canadian government, who supposedly looked after its ‘Indian’ subjects.
Something of the condescending attitude of that era is shown through the sloppiness of the Klahoose entries. Four of the 13 families in the list that follows are headed by people like ‘Old Louie,’ ‘Old Dominick,’ ‘Old Beal,’ or Old (Angabe?). Their first names do not appear to be important enough to record. Similarly, Chief Julian’s first name was recorded as ‘Chief.’
Is it surprising that First Nations did not eagerly embrace the ‘settler’ culture that had taken so much from them? Only two people from the 13 Klahoose families in the census learned to read and write. Neither of them were heads of their families.
However, even a quick perusal of the data reveals that 8 of the 13 Klahoose family heads were loggers, 3 were elderly fishermen and there was also a farmer. There was also a household, headed by a woman, whose income is not recorded.
Most of the settler women did not have a recognized source of income either, but would have worked on the family farms. Two school teachers and a postmistress are among the exceptions.
The settlement of Cortes effectively began with Michael Manson’s arrival in 1887. His brother, John Manson, arrived the following year. They both have descendants still living on Cortes.
At a time when First Nations peoples were being marginalized, Europeans were paying $1 an acre for land grants of 160 acres. John Manson received a grant in 1893, Samuel Thompson (whose son Nicholas appears in the 1911 census) in 1894 and Charles Allen in 1899.
Williams’ 1895 Directory states the population of Whaletown was 50 people.
There also appears to have been a number of settlers in the rest of ‘Cortez Island.’
The 1911 census lists 135 settlers and 60 Klahoose on Cortes Island.
This is not a complete record. We do not know how many Klahoose were living off the reserve. Neither Michael Manson or his son Nicol are listed. Jane Manson appears as ‘head’ of that family. David Robertson’s oldest son, Allen, was also omitted and one also has to wonder what happened to Henry Hague’s wife and children.
Never-the-less, the ‘settler’ families are grouped in 37 ‘households’: 24 of which were on farms, another 7 made up of loggers or logging crews; and another 6 entries. The latter category consisted of:
- Michael Manson’s family,
- Two surveyors who lived in the same house
- A sawmill owner
- A builder.
- A shopkeeper
- A piano maker
While there were a number of Japanese and Chinese entries, they were all in logging crews and earned significantly less than their European counterparts.
Europeans appear to have enjoyed a great deal of freedom in regard to their religious ideologies. There were Anglicans, Baptists, Lutherans, Methodists, Presbyterians and atheists.
Non-Europeans were not accorded the same latitude. The census takers state that Chinese and Japanese workers did not have any beliefs (‘none’). Similarly, every Klahoose entry, from 6 month old babies up to an 80 year old woman, appears to be stamped ‘Catholic.’
The world has changed a great deal since 1911.
Two thirds of British Columbia’s population was either British, or of British descent, when World War One broke out three years later. That’s why so many of our ancestors volunteered to defend the Empire. (It’s also why I traced the number of Canadians and immigrants from the USA who have British origins.)
When Rudyard Kipling penned ‘the White Man’s Burden,’ in 1899, Europeans appeared to be leading the rest of the world out of ignorance and into a more enlightened age.
- “Take up the White Man’s burden—
- Send forth the best ye breed—
- Go bind your sons to exile
- To serve your captives’ need;
- To wait in heavy harness
- On fluttered folk and wild—
- Your new-caught sullen peoples,
- Half devil and half child.”
In his defence, similar ethnocentric sentiments have been expressed by past civilizations around the globe. Some of their descendants were among the ‘sullen peoples’ the British sought to enlighten.
According to the Klahoose First Nation website: “As Canada opened its doors to early settlers and explorers, First peoples across the country, including those at Klahoose, were marginalized. Restrictive legislation prohibiting cultural ceremonies like the Potlatch, coupled with mandatory attendance at Residential Schools, alienated generations from one another. The echo of this devastating period in our shared history continues to linger.”
Cortes is no longer the self reliant farming community that appears in the 1911 census. Most of our groceries are now imported. While the island is still covered by forests, most of the giant old growth trees are gone. There are fewer fish and fishermen. Only a fraction of the island’s current work force can now find full time employment.
Sabina Hawkins told the census taker her profession was ‘homemaker.’ Families tended to be much larger back then. Sabina had 4 children to raise. In addition, two of her husband’s brothers and a lodger were living with the Hawkins family. When she was not attending to domestic matters, Sabina probably worked on the family farm.
Seven years after the 1911 census was taken, Canadian women were given the right to vote in Federal Elections.
Chinese and Japanese Canadians had to wait until 1948 and, prior to 1960, First Nations peoples could only vote if they gave up their Indian status.
One thing that has not changed is the spirit of volunteerism that has held Cortes Island society together since the first settlers arrived. Lacking the tax base of larger communities, the island would be much poorer without it.
(A) 1911 census of Klahoose from Squirrel Cove
(B) 1911 Census of settlers on Cortes Island
(The first 3 households in this series were on Savary Island, Twin Island and Blind Creek)
Top image credit: Mr. Fred Hawkins, Rev. John Butler, Mike Manson, Flossie Manson, Hazel Manson, Ethel Manson, Len Hawkins, Mae Hawkins, Gwen Manson, Anna Manson, Herbert Hawkins, Billy Hawkins, Wilfred Manson, Beatrice Hawkins in front of the Mansons Landing School
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