We Are Not Stones: Land, Indigenous Agency, and Colonialism in Williams Lake BC, 1821-1881
Date
2024
Authors
Calabrese, Massimo
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Publisher
University of Victoria
Abstract
This project explores the complex realities of colonialism at Williams Lake from 1821-1881, taking a microhistorical approach to the study of broader themes in BC History. It seeks to analyze the transformation of the Williams Lake area from an Indigenous to a settler-controlled space by following the interactions between the T'exelcemc of the Secwepemc Nation and various colonial systems including the Hudson's Bay Company, the BC Colonial and Provincial Governments, and the Catholic Church. Indigenous agency is a central focus, particularly the letters of Chief William detailing the plight of his people caused by the theft of their land and the failure of the government to establish a reserve for over twenty years.
Description
Keywords
Indigenous, Cariboo, colonialism, British Columbia, Williams Lake, Secwepemc