Selected aspects of cultural change among Amerindians : a case study of the southeast Vancouver Island
Date
1970
Authors
Aziz, Salim Akhtar
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
This study is an attempt to analyse certain changes which have taken place in the economic life of Indian communities in Southeast Vancouver Island. It compares the culture at two points in time, 1880 and 1969, in terms of the following variables.
(I) Population
(II) Occupation and Income
(III) Housing
(IV) Formal Education
The study follows the historical approach to analyse the change in selected features of Indian culture. The major source of information are, historic documents and records of the Government and a field survey of the eight Indian reserves following a simple random sampling method. The results of the study indicate that there have been highly significant changes among these people of Southeast Vancouver Island. The traditional pattern of social organization has been undoubtedly disrupted. Hunting, fishing and food gathering for subsistence have almost totally disappeared and almost all the Indians have become wage workers. The education level has been raised. In terms of material comforts, white man's amenities are preferred to traditional ones. Population has doubled itself since 1880. The change in traditional living patterns of the Indians has changed the functional meaning of their habitat. The reservations are no more hunting or fishing grounds or even agriculture land. No Indian band now lives close to the aboriginal level. The trend is towards a more completely westernized material living pattern and a slow rate of change in social organization consequently the Indians will undoubtedly remain a distinct ethnic group, living in separate communities and with somewhat different ways of life but within the framework of Canadian society. The reservations are expected to exist for a long time. The condition of the reservations will be much improved with granting more autonomy to the Indian people to manage their own affairs.