The Joint Indian Reserve Commission was established in 1876 to resolve disputes regarding reserve lands. Joseph Trutch became governor of the colony in 1864 and while in power, reduced existing reserves and was unwilling to allot new reserves or add to pre-existing reserves. Trutch refused to recognize Aboriginal Title and, like Douglas, acted without any formal policy. Trutch's reductions to Indian reserves were the first of many "adjustments" or "cut-offs" that have been made to reserves.

Ongoing disputes resulted in the establishment of the Indian Reserve Commission in 1876 (first called the 'Joint Reserve Commission') to determine Indian reserves in British Columbia. The reserve commission was authorized to create reserves to be used for the benefit of First Nations. Dominion crown lands were to be used to add land to reserves while any land removed became Provincial land. The decisions of the Joint Reserve Commission were made without consent from First Nations.

This digital collection includes:

• Federal and Provincial Collections of Minutes of Decision, Correspondence, and Sketches:
  Materials produced by the Joint Indian Reserve Commission and Indian Reserve Commission, 1876-1910.
• Federal and Provincial Collection indexes

If you have questions or concerns about the collection, please contact the site administrator at library@ubcic.bc.ca.