User:Keyiw5/Koyah

The chief
Koyah, also Coya, Coyour, Kower, Kouyer, ranking chief of the Kunghit-Haidas, the southernmost division of the Queen Charlotte Islands Haidas; probably d. 21 June 1795.

Introduction
Koyah, not a normal chief like others, was embroiled in more clashes with trading vessels than any other northwest coast chief. Moreover, he was trying to stop the violence, and contributed a lot to the origins of his tribe.

The fur trade
The fur trade at Red-Cod-Island-Town (Ninstints, Anthony Island, B.C.), the principal village of Koyah’s people, began on peaceful terms. The settlement, called Koyah’s by the traders, who followed the practice of naming each village after its chief, had been visited in 1787 by George Dixon and in 1788 by Charles Duncan. In June 1789 the Lady Washington, commanded by Robert Gray*(citation from http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/koyah_4E.html). John Kendrick, Gray's partner, he allowed too many Indians on board and threatened other chiefs with death until all the stolen items were returned and all the furs in the village were traded to him. Finally, Kendrick's behavior was a violation, so Koyah seek a revenge.

Second Encounter
Gray visited the village and reported that Koyah “appeared to be much frightened, being in a constant tremor the whole time.” Moreover, as the Indians explained to him, “koyah was now no longer a Chief, but an ‘Ahliko,’ or one of the lower class; they have now no head Chief, but many inferior Chiefs.”. The next events show Koyah engaged in activities that would regain for him some of his prestige. On 27 August Captain Joseph Ingraham, at anchor in Cumshewa Inlet (Moresby Island, B.C.), saw Koyah and Skulkinanse leading 12 large canoes to war against a traditional enemy, Chief Skidegate. The outcome of that raid is not known. In the summer of 1794 Koyah, along with the chiefs Cumshewa and Scorch Eye, captured at Cumshewa an American brig manned by 11 men and put to death all but one, who was held in slavery for a year. During the winter of 1794–95 he captured a large British vessel which had anchored nearby to replace broken masts. The entire crew was killed(citation form http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/koyah_4E.html).

Crucial events
On 21 June 1795 the Boston sloop Union, commanded by John Boit, dropped anchor off Koyah’s village. Forty canoes containing 300 men surrounded the vessel, and eight of the chiefs, including Koyah, came aboard. In Boit’s words, “Scorch Eye the head chief began the attack by seizing Mr. Hudson, the 2nd officer. At the same time the Indians along side attempted to board, with the most hideous yells. . . . I killed their first chief, Scorch Eye, in the 2nd mates arms, while they was struggling together. The rest of the Chiefs on board was knock’d down & wounded & we kill’d from the Nettings & in the Canoes along side above 40 more. . . . Suppose in this fracas we kill’d and wounded about 50 but the Indians said we killed 70.” Next day the Indians ransomed back the captured chiefs, who had been held in irons. Boit’s identification of Scorch Eye as the head chief, together with the report of this incident made by Captain Charles Bishop, who wrote that “Koyer. . . attacked Captain Boyds vessel,” has led historians to conclude that it was Koyah, rather than Scorch Eye, who was killed in the attack. At all events, this is the last time that Koyah is mentioned in contemporary accounts.(citation from http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/koyah_4E.html)

Summary
The Kunghit-Haidas survived for a time, but Koyah’s dynasty did not; in the following decade the Eagle chief, Ninstints, took ascendancy. Reduced by the encounters with Kendrick and Boit and by the smallpox epidemic of 1862, the remnants of the tribe abandoned their village about 1885, moved to Skidegate (B.C.), and became Christians.