Indigenous Victoria: Douglas Treaties, Nations and Community
An introduction to Victoria: its history, the Nations whose lands it sits on, and Indigenous community life today, with sources.
About Victoria
British Columbia’s capital sits at the southern tip of Vancouver Island on the ancestral lands of the lək̓ʷəŋən-speaking peoples, known today as the Songhees and Xʷsepsəm (Esquimalt) Nations, with W̱SÁNEĆ peoples also part of Greater Victoria. Seven bronze markers shaped like spindle whorls, the Signs of lək̓ʷəŋən created by master carver Butch Dick and his son Clarence Dick Jr., identify culturally important places around the Inner Harbour and beyond. The Royal BC Museum presents exhibits on local Indigenous peoples and natural history, and the Victoria Native Friendship Centre supports urban Indigenous residents. The University of Victoria and Camosun College operate in Saanich, while Royal Roads University is in Colwood. Government, technology, tourism, education and the naval base at CFB Esquimalt are central to the economy, alongside landmarks such as the Parliament Buildings.
Victoria history
Archaeological evidence shows people have lived in the Victoria area for at least 4,000 years. The Songhees Nation describes a small palisaded village on Beacon Hill, known as míqən. It was occupied from time to time between about 1,000 and 300 years ago. The Xʷsepsəm people hunted deer, elk and seal and used reefnet technology to harvest salmon. Before colonial restrictions, they travelled across southern Vancouver Island, the Salish Sea and up the Fraser River. James Douglas of the Hudson's Bay Company founded Fort Victoria in 1843. He chose the site for its level farmland and a possible mill site at the Gorge. Between 1850 and 1854, Douglas concluded treaties with local Indigenous groups. They recognized existing village sites and hunting and fishing rights in exchange for cash and trade goods. Victoria became the seat of government for the Vancouver Island colony in 1849. The Fraser River gold rush of 1858 brought a surge of newcomers, and the city was incorporated in 1862. The Songhees once had a settlement and reserve at what is now called Songhees Point. In 1911 the Nation moved from that reserve to its current one.
Treaty and territory
Victoria is on the territory of the Lekwungen peoples, the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations, and is covered by the Douglas Treaties of the 1850s.
Nearby: Songhees Nation · Xʷsepsəm (Esquimalt) Nation · Saanich · Esquimalt · Oak Bay · Colwood
Indigenous Victoria today
The Songhees and Xʷsepsəm Nations are active neighbours with their own institutions. The Songhees Nation runs a Wellness Centre, an Early Learning Centre and the Songhees Development Corporation from Admirals Road. Xʷsepsəm, also called Esquimalt Nation, offers Head Start daycare, health services, housing and economic development programs. Its members share the Lekwungen language with sister nations now collectively known as Songhees. The City of Victoria set up its Witness Reconciliation Program in 2017. It created a "City Family" that includes members of both Nations, urban Indigenous people, the mayor and some councillors. In August 2018, council voted to remove the Sir John A. Macdonald statue from City Hall. In 2022 the city renamed Trutch Street as Su'it Street and set up a Reconciliation Contribution Fund. Downtown wayfinding signs now include Lekwungen place names. The city lists the South Island Powwow as an annual event on September 30. The Victoria Native Friendship Centre, on Regina Avenue, offers employment and education help, family and youth services and food security programs. It also runs a primary care clinic and housing supports, and it offers programming in Indigenous culture and traditions.
Life in Victoria
Victoria had 91,867 residents in 2021, up from 85,792 in 2016. Its population is older than most Canadian cities, with 23.2 per cent aged 65 or over. Government, tourism, public administration, personal services and retail trade lead the economy. The Canadian Encyclopedia notes that distance from mainland markets limits manufacturing. The city's landmarks span more than a century. The provincial legislative buildings date from 1898, and the Empress Hotel opened in 1908. Butchart Gardens, about 20 kilometres northwest of the city is one of the region's best-known landmarks. Victoria's older story is marked on the land as well. Beacon Hill, known as míqən, is identified by the Songhees Nation as a former village site. The city's reconciliation program points visitors to the Signs of Lekwungen interpretive walk. Following it is a simple way to see the Lekwungen history beneath the modern waterfront. The Songhees Nation's own business, Causeway Art, adds another Lekwungen presence in the city.
Victoria seasons and weather
Victoria has Canada’s mildest climate, with January averaging about 5°C and fairly dry summers, so a tee under a light hoodie covers most days of the year.
More on the region: Indigenous British Columbia · all of Canada.
Keep learning in the XUSI Journal
- First Nations, Métis and Inuit: What’s the Difference?
- How to Write a Land Acknowledgement That Means Something
- Orange Shirt Day & the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
- National Indigenous Peoples Day and History Month: A Guide
- All Journal articles
Victoria questions
How quickly does an order to Victoria leave Saskatoon?
Orders leave within 1–3 business days. The shipping cost appears at checkout.
What is the return window for customers in Victoria?
Returns can be requested within 30 days. Also worth knowing: orders of $90 or more ship free within Canada.
Can an Indigenous youth group in Victoria order shirts for the South Island Powwow?
Yes. Custom screen printing starts at 10 garments, with up to 4 colours per design, and every order is quoted before printing. Design help is included. We print in Saskatoon, then ship across the mountains to Vancouver Island, so order well before the September 30 powwow.
What XUSI layers make sense for Victoria's mild, wet winters?
Victoria winters are mild but often damp. A heavyweight cotton tee under one of our hoodies covers most days, with a rain shell on top when needed. The Black Oni long sleeve is a lighter option for spring and fall walks along the waterfront or through the downtown streets.
Last reviewed . Facts on this page come from the sources listed below.
Indigenous clothing from XUSI
From the Prairies to the provincial capital, XUSI sends Indigenous-owned design to Victoria, shipping tees, hats and hoodies from its Saskatoon home base to southern Vancouver Island.
Victoria's mild, damp climate calls for light layers you can wear all year. A heavyweight 100% cotton tee handles a summer walk along the Inner Harbour or up Beacon Hill. On grey, damp winter days, pull a hoodie from our $59.95 to $89.95 range under a rain shell. The Black Oni long sleeve is right for a cool September 30, when the South Island Powwow and Orange Shirt Day bring people together. Our women's baby rib tee at $24.95 suits a warm afternoon in the gardens. For a long walk on the Signs of Lekwungen route, the A-frame snapback keeps sun and drizzle off your face. Custom team or community orders start at 10 garments.
