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