“371 and 1” is a visual representation of the Douglas Treaties, as it relates to the “acquisition” of the Songhees territory, as negotiated by James Douglas, between Songhees and the Hudson’s Bay Company. 

Historical records state that in the final analysis, the Songhees “sold” their title to the District of Victoria for “371 blankets and a cap.”

There has been much question and concern as it relates to the “Douglas Treaties” or the Fort Victoria Treaties/Vancouver Island treaties as they are also known. 

The treaties have been questioned and disputed in relation to how the actual terms of the treaties were left blank, at the time of signing, and many pages and clauses were added after the fact; leaders were asked to sign an X at the bottom of a blank ledger.

As a Nuu-chah-nulth visitor on the Lekwungen lands, that I am honoured to work on and call home, I created this work to simply give a visual representation to the history of this Douglas Treaty, for us to understand and relate to. 

This installation is of 371 blankets and one lone wool cap.