History
History
Abstract
Centered on the Finlay-Parsnip watershed and Front Ranges of the Rockies, the traditional territory of the Tsek’ehne is still to this day often conceptualized as wilderness. This perception hides the numerous attempts by European settlers to transform the area into an agricultural center. I argue it persists for two main reasons. First, the settler colonial narrative does not handle failure well. In short, rather than acknowledge abandoned farms and ranches, it is simply easier to act like they never existed. Second, from a Tsek’eh perspective it is potentially beneficial to not challenge this forgetting, as concepts of wilderness can preclude further attempts to develop the area, especially within the context of the conservation and environmental movements. This paper will examine how both of these rationales were employed and what impact, if any, they had on future developments.
Daniel Sims, University of Northern British Columbia