I was there when Simon Fraser came. All the people were frightened. They called out and ran around. Some picked up their bows and spears. Others just stood still and looked. It was seen that some of the people in the canoes were just like those who had come in the white-winged canoes. They were not like any of the people who lived on the river, or like those who came when the salmon ran thick in the summer. The faces of some were pale; others had big beards. They wore strange clothes. They were the Sky–people, we thought.
The Fraser Valley: A History – John A. Cherrington
Fort Langley Exhibit
These are the words of a Kwantlen chief who witnessed the arrival of Europeans from the eastern part of Canada into their territory in the year 1808 along what is now known as the Fraser river. It's a massive river that flows from the interior of the province to the waters of the Pacific, and its a major economic artery that predates the arrival of Europeans. The Kwantlen were one of the major tribes that inhabited this western region at the time of contact with the expedition. The natives thought of these strangers as 'Sky-People', led by a then 32-year old named Simon Fraser. He was an explorer and fur trader working on behalf of the North West Company, as related on the following poster from the Fort Langley historic exhibition.
The Kwantlen leaders instructed their warriors not to harm these Sky-People because they might provide protection against other tribes in the area. They warned Simon Fraser about other hostile tribes downriver.
Simon Fraser and his team continued to other unmapped territories along the river, which was treacherous in many parts because of canyons and rapids that forced them to take overland routes, where they soon encountered tribes like the Musqueam. Unable to send a messenger ahead of time to warn of his impending arrival, Simon Fraser and his group simply showed up at their village. The residents did not take a liking to them and soon pursued the group, which made a harrowing escape from about "700" howling warriors who surrounded them with weapons in hand. One particular altercation was related by Chief Saquist.
They took the things from the young men and kicked them. That was bad. It is all right to kick a squaw, but not a warrior. It makes him ashamed. So the hearts of the young men grew black inside of them. And so it was resolved to pursue the white and kill them later that night.
The Fraser Valley: A History – John A. Cherrington
The attack plot was stopped by a Kwantlen sub-chief who convinced the young native warriors not to carry out the plan or more white people would come to avenge them. Simon Fraser’s expedition was able to continue, and his exploration lay the foundations for what is now known as Fort Langley, on the banks of the river that bears his name and is considered the “birthplace of the province of British Columbia.”
The fort was established in 1827 by the Hudson’s Bay Company as a fur trading post on the Fraser river, which quickly became an economic hub with the import and export of goods throughout the Pacific and beyond. Native people would bring goods like fur, fruit, and salmon to trade for European goods in a mutually beneficial economic relationship, though not without its fair share of wild west mayhem.
The fort was later moved upriver because of problems with flooding, a growing population, and lack of arable of land.
Nowadays, you can visit this magnificent fort in its new location, where it has been restored and designated the status of National Historic Site of Canada. One can enter many of these buildings in which they have recreated what life was like back then. I'll come back with a few more snapshots from this slice of Canadian history in the western frontier. Until then, I hope you enjoyed the historic tour.
Resources
Fort Langley National Historic Site
https://parks.canada.ca/lhn-nhs/bc/langley/culture/histoire-history
Fort Langley
https://www.canadahistory.com/sections/places/Settlements/Fort_Langley.html
Surrey History
https://www.surreyhistory.ca/kwantlen.html
Simon Fraser, ABC BookWorld
https://abcbookworld.com/writer/fraser-simon/
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