Chatham Islands (British Columbia) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Chatham Islands
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Chatham Islands as seen from the air.
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 Chatham Islands
Location in British Columbia
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| Country | Canada |
| Province | British Columbia |
The Chatham Islands are a small group of islands located near Oak Bay, British Columbia, Canada. Most of these islands are part of the Chatham Islands Indian Reserve No. 4. This means they are managed by the Songhees First Nation, an Indigenous group.
The land right along the water's edge, called the foreshore, is also important. The Songhees First Nation has always kept their rights to this land and the waters around the islands. These islands are considered "treaty lands." This means that agreements were made between the British Crown and Indigenous groups about land use.
History of the Chatham Islands
The Chatham Islands got their name in 1846. Surveyors named them after HMS Chatham. This ship was an escort for HMS Discovery. The Discovery carried Captain George Vancouver, a British explorer. He mapped the coast of British Columbia between 1792 and 1794. The nearby Discovery Island was named after the Discovery.
Treaties and Land Rights
From the early 1700s to the late 1800s, the British Crown signed treaties with Indigenous peoples. These treaties helped define how both Indigenous groups and European newcomers could use the land. While many treaties transferred Indigenous land rights, the Songhees First Nation kept their rights to the Chatham Islands' foreshore. This area is protected by the Songhees because it has important archaeological sites.
Takaya the Wolf
Around 2012, a special gray wolf named Takaya arrived at the Chatham Islands. This wolf was part of a group known as "coastal wolves." Takaya swam to the islands from the mainland, possibly from near Victoria.
Takaya lived on the small island for about eight years. He became well-known and was often seen by people. Eventually, Takaya left the islands on his own. He swam back to the mainland. Sadly, he was later shot by a hunter near Shawinigan Lake.
