Chapter 3
How does place shape a people’s identity ?
Review of key information on First Nations People
The People of the Coast
• The Northwest coast was abundant in resources which allowed for
permanent communities- with elaborate art and social structure
• Cedar plank long houses
• Social hierarchy – chiefs, nobles, commoners and slaves
• Coastal societies had frequent contact with their neighboring
communities.
• Ceremonies included the Potlatch – “The potlatch was given to us [by
our Creator] to be our way of expressing joy”
The People of the Plateau
• Inhabit the interior of BC
• Share cultural traits with their neighbors ex – healing ceremonies and
Potlatches
• They depend on the watersheds of the Fraser, Columbia and the
Skeena Rivers
• Heavily dependent on the Salmon
The People of the Plains
• Not one single nation but many
• Example the Blackfoot Confederacy
• Spoke languages from 6 different language families
• Dependent on the Bison – provided food, tools, weapons, clothing
and shelter – viewed as a spiritual entity
• Homes = tipis
• Most famous ceremony was the Sun Dance – a test of bravery
• The sweat lodge served as a scared purpose of ritual purification
Canada’s Fur Trade
• Canada’s Fur Trade was both resource exploitation and economic
imperialism
• -Resource Exploration = using land, water, and natural resource for
profit
• -Economic Imperialism = one country controlling another for
economic gain.
Comparing Companies
• HBC vs NWC
• Reading pages 86-99 – compare and contrast the two companies
• Information to pay close attention to –
• Location, Operating policies and Trading Practices,
employees/workers and Life as employees