ADAPTING TO NEW ECONOMIES
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Transcript of ADAPTING TO NEW ECONOMIES
ADAPTING TO NEW ECONOMIES
Chapter 7
COLONIALISM AND RESOURCE APPROPRIATION
• relationship between non-Aboriginal and Aboriginal in BC revolved around exploitation and appropriation of natural resources
• fur tradeo lost control of tradeo new lifestyle of farmer
introducedo rights of land deniedo control of land and resources
destroyed by laws of government
• loss of fishing rightso law passed for “food fishing” onlyo lost traditional and customary rights to fishing resourceso ownership to industrial firms
First Nations as employees• struggle to regain control of traditional land and resources continues in conflict
o needs of market economy supersede those of Aboriginal land title and resources
FISHING FOR A LIVING• 1880 – 1970s primary industries were
major industries in BCo First Nations men and women as
employeeso supplied bulk of labour force for
fishers and canneries recruited as family units
• 1890s allies with non-Aboriginals in trade union in fishing industryo critical strike in 1900
demonstrated labour force of diverse cultural background could work together
established employers had to share some profits with workers
prior to strike, fish processing firms had almost complete control of terms of employment and pricing
• until 1930s labour unions included both First Nations and non-Aboriginals
o First Nations fishers chose to join rather than organize themselveso finally in conflict when unions failed to develop a united policy of recognizing First Nations rights and title
• 1931 Haida and Tsimshian commercial fishermen formed Native Brotherhood of British Columbia
o for recognition of Aboriginal rights in hunting, fishing, trapping, and off-reserve loggingo Sisterhood – led struggle for better working conditions and wages for women in canning
• in role as labour brokers, some First Nations leaders able to accumulate wealth and higher social position
o able to purchase own motor boats and control labour supply some unable to do so because government regulations prevented them from borrowing money from banks driven out by increasing operation costs
• Euro-Cdns under different set of ruleso fish companies maintained control through monopolieso most workers had to work in different industries
had to collectively organize – trade unions
WORKING IN AGRICULTURE• common false assumption of
colonization is that agriculture is the hallmark of civilization – agriculture shows more advanced societyo government and missionaries
determined to make First Nations into farmers
most coastal farmers had little arable land
• Interior First Nations tried to farmo discriminatory laws favoured
settlerso agricultural interests displaced
people from territorieso formed important segment of
workforce
• large differences between First Nations resource-gathering and Euro-Cdn farming
o First Nations wide variety of plants and animals farmers limited crops and livestock
o First Nations needed larger space farmers in one place year-round farming more labour intensive
• principal resources in farming – land and watero First Nations denied access to botho settlers could pre-empt land 160-320 acres
prohibited from taking land that were burial sites, First Nations villages or cultivated fields
often ignored First Nations tried to seek justice but legal system against them
• people in despairo survivors of epidemics finding land disappearingo animal habitats goneo salmon run failed (1879)
• First Nations in agricultureo subsistence farming
provide food for familyo commercial farming
few areas – Cowichan Valley, Fraser Valley, Okanagan difficult to succeed
restricted to land reserves no access to water irrigation
o couldn’t get water licence could make more money as labourer than owner
o farm labourers seasonal work suited lifestyle
LABOURING ON HOP FARMS• hop industry one of first
agriculture to hire large numbers of First Nations as seasonal workerso flowers ripened late August-
Septembero plantations required
hundreds of workers depended on First Nations
until mechanization• hundreds families to hop farms
usually after salmon canning o more than extra income –
social gathering
RANCHING• cattle ranching in interior since
1860so Okanagan Valley, Nicola Valley,
Cariboo, Chilcotin country• fit First Nations lifestyle – already
expert with horses• some First Nations successful
owners, but fewo one – Chief Johnny Chillihitzia
(Okanagan) strong leader for interior
people in politics• Thomas family in Peace River
o had to give up Indian status and Treaty (8) rights in order to pre-empt land
IMPACT OF THE NEW ECONOMIES• capitalist economy transformed First
Nations economic and social structureso became wage labourerso changed from collective,
independent production to dependent, single family subsistence
• had to move beyond local regions to worko seasonalo disastrous result – smallpox
epidemic 1862o difficult choices – stay at home on
reserves and communities or more to urban centre for more economic and educational opportunities
population decline in rural reserves
• family changeso no longer families working togethero roles of men and women diverge
men resource gather, women processing or stay at home• women
o primary role in processing food for family, but demands of jobs put pressure on productiono traditional diet changed to Euro-Cdn
spend cash at grocery store, because less time in food production