Title and fonds description contain historical terms that some may consider offensive. Although they do not reflect today's sensibilities, the terms are being maintained because they are part of an official name or designation at the time the records were created, and they provide evidence of the attitudes and usage of that period.
A Presbyterian mission was established among the Ahousaht First Nation in 1895 on the west coast of Vancouver Island, and with the formation of the United Church of Canada in 1925, it became Ahousaht United Church. Besides a church, the records indicate that an "Indian school" (as it was known at the time) was also operated by the mission, which was sponsored by the Women's Missionary Society of the Presbyterian Church and later also received support from the Board of Home Missions of the United Church of Canada. In 1962 the federal government assumed full responsibility for the school. The congregation itself was, based on yearbook statistics, a port of call for the West Coast Marine Mission from ca. 1954 to 1976. Thereafter, it has either been part of the Long Beach Pastoral Charge or has received pastoral supply from Long Beach. No evidence of common internal administrative divisions besides a church board are given by the records.
published
Full
Final
Title based on contents of the fonds
BCAUL control number: UCCBC-105
Fonds consists of the records of Ahousaht United Church and its predecessor, Ahousaht Presbyterian Church. Records include Baptism register (1919-1957), Baptismal Certificate stubs (1935-1937), Birth records (1904-1944), Marriage registers (1923-1957), and Death records (1904-1957); Indian Court proceedings (1914, 1955); Communion roll (1951-1954), Membership roll (1958-1962); Church Board minutes (1951-1963), Congregational meetings minutes (1953-1963), Christian Temperance Union of the Ahousat Indians pledge and constitution (1951); Christian Education building dedication (1963); Cash book (1952-1962).
Accession was not documented; records were received prior to 2006
No further accruals expected
Access to vital event records (baptism/marriage/burial records) may be restricted according to requirements of the B.C. Personal Information Protection Act
File list available