[1] In 1916, the Indian Rights Association and the Interior Tribes of British Columbia united in opposition to the McKenna-McBride Royal Commission (which was tasked with reviewing the size of Indian reserves in the province with an aim to confirming, expanding, or, more typically, reducing them) and formed the Allied Tribes of British Columbia.
In 1921, the British Judicial Committee of the Privy Council sided with Nigerian Chief Oluwa in his claim for compensation for land around Apapa in Lagos, Nigeria.
[4] Inspired by this decision, the Allied Tribes attempted to bring their case for aboriginal title to the Privy Council in London.
Chiefs (including William Pierrish of the Neskonlith Indian Band) travelled to London with a petition for aboriginal title.
A meeting was arranged in Ottawa in the spring of 1927 where the claim was dismissed by Duncan Campbell Scott, the Deputy Superintendent-General of Indian Affairs.