One of the least discussed elements of British Columbia history is that all the early industries that sparked and sustained European settlement depended on Indigenous labour. Indigenous People were the hunters and trappers that the Hudson's Bay Company and, before them, other traders depended on. It was Indigenous People who drew attention to the placer gold that started the series of gold rushes, and who packed—on their backs, in their canoes, and, later, on their horses—the supplies the miners needed. The Stó:lō and Songhees were the first to operate a commercial fishery—selling salmon which was salted and exported to the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC). The Haida were among the first commercial farmers—selling potatoes to newcomers— while other groups were the first to sell trees and make shingles.1 Indigenous People were…
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British Columbia History (Digital) - 1 Issue, 56.4 Winter 2023