The island that became a sanctuary for refugees and draft evaders
In short: Salt Spring Island has long served as a refuge. From African Americans fleeing discriminatory laws in 1858 to US citizens escaping the Vietnam War in the 1960s, this diverse landscape has offered new beginnings to those seeking safety and freedom.
The island's history is defined by its role as a destination for those seeking a fresh start. In 1858, African Americans left California to escape discriminatory legislation, traveling to the Colony of Vancouver Island after Mifflin Wistar Gibbs sought assurances from Governor James Douglas. Having multi-ethnic origins, the Governor pledged equitable treatment and mentioned that slavery had been ended in the colony over two decades prior. While communities like Vesuvius and Ganges were predominantly African-American, racial tensions and unsolved murders between 1867 and 1868 eventually drove much of the population to cities like Victoria and Vancouver.
The island's unique land laws also shaped its early character. It was the first in the Colony of Vancouver Island to allow settlers to acquire land through pre-emption, a process where occupants could improve land before purchasing it at one dollar per acre. This method encouraged family-based subsistence farming, though the harsh winter of 1862, which killed livestock, forced some families to abandon their plots. By 1891, the subdistrict population reached 436 people.
In more recent history, the island has hosted displaced populations during times of conflict. During World War II, 77 Japanese Canadian families were forcibly relocated from the coast due to internment. Despite verbal promises that their homes would remain intact, Custodian Gavin C. Mouat sold many properties below market value through his company, Salt Spring Lands Ltd. Only one interning family, the Murakamis, eventually returned to the island. By the 1960s, the island had become a political refuge for United States citizens evading the Vietnam War draft.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Salt Spring Island
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