Trying to make a life : the historical political economy of Kitsumkalum

Anthropological inquiries into the human condition have long been tempered with a concern for the difficulties experienced by non-Western societies faced with prolonged contact with the expanding Western social systems. In economic anthropology, studies of contemporary tribal and peasant societies h...

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Main Author: McDonald, James Andrew
Language:English
Published: University of British Columbia 2010
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/2429/25829
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spelling ndltd-UBC-oai-circle.library.ubc.ca-2429-258292018-01-05T17:43:19Z Trying to make a life : the historical political economy of Kitsumkalum McDonald, James Andrew Tsimshian Indians -- Economic conditions Indians of North America -- British Columbia -- Kitsumkalum -- Economic conditions. Anthropological inquiries into the human condition have long been tempered with a concern for the difficulties experienced by non-Western societies faced with prolonged contact with the expanding Western social systems. In economic anthropology, studies of contemporary tribal and peasant societies have turned to the literature on development and underdevelopment to explain the features and processes that are associated with that contact. This dissertation is the result of such research into the social and economic problems on the Northwest Coast. The work examines the history and ethhography of the Tsimshian Indians to determine the underlying social forces that led to and still maintain the underdevelopment of the social and economic potential of Tsimshian groups. Particular attention is given to the form and dynamics of the Tsimshian economy, of the regional expression of the expanding world market economy, and the relations between the two. The dissertation thus explores the socioeconomic aspects of the interlock between Indian development and the evolving development of capital. The Tsimshian village of Kitsumkalum was the focus of the inquiry. Using its history, I document how the changes which brought about an economic reversal for the native people were at the same time favourable to the establishment and growth of industrial capital in the region. Two sets of factors are critical for understanding.this shift: (1) new forms of property which, through government intervention, transferred ownership and control of the factors of production to the industrialists, and in the process redefined the resources, technology and labour in terms consistent with the development of capital; (2) the diversion of Tsimshian resources, technology and labour out of traditional production into the modern economy, where they were transformed and ultimately became dependent on the vagaries of a global market in which the Tsimshians had little or no control. The specific information in the dissertation explains how these processes occurred, how the independence of the old political economy was undermined, how an ostensibly "peaceful penetration" of the area occurred as a result, and how the Tsimshian responded by alternately accommodating and resisting the situation. Arts, Faculty of Anthropology, Department of Graduate 2010-06-17T23:22:17Z 2010-06-17T23:22:17Z 1985 Text Thesis/Dissertation http://hdl.handle.net/2429/25829 eng For non-commercial purposes only, such as research, private study and education. Additional conditions apply, see Terms of Use https://open.library.ubc.ca/terms_of_use. University of British Columbia
collection NDLTD
language English
sources NDLTD
topic Tsimshian Indians -- Economic conditions
Indians of North America -- British Columbia -- Kitsumkalum -- Economic conditions.
spellingShingle Tsimshian Indians -- Economic conditions
Indians of North America -- British Columbia -- Kitsumkalum -- Economic conditions.
McDonald, James Andrew
Trying to make a life : the historical political economy of Kitsumkalum
description Anthropological inquiries into the human condition have long been tempered with a concern for the difficulties experienced by non-Western societies faced with prolonged contact with the expanding Western social systems. In economic anthropology, studies of contemporary tribal and peasant societies have turned to the literature on development and underdevelopment to explain the features and processes that are associated with that contact. This dissertation is the result of such research into the social and economic problems on the Northwest Coast. The work examines the history and ethhography of the Tsimshian Indians to determine the underlying social forces that led to and still maintain the underdevelopment of the social and economic potential of Tsimshian groups. Particular attention is given to the form and dynamics of the Tsimshian economy, of the regional expression of the expanding world market economy, and the relations between the two. The dissertation thus explores the socioeconomic aspects of the interlock between Indian development and the evolving development of capital. The Tsimshian village of Kitsumkalum was the focus of the inquiry. Using its history, I document how the changes which brought about an economic reversal for the native people were at the same time favourable to the establishment and growth of industrial capital in the region. Two sets of factors are critical for understanding.this shift: (1) new forms of property which, through government intervention, transferred ownership and control of the factors of production to the industrialists, and in the process redefined the resources, technology and labour in terms consistent with the development of capital; (2) the diversion of Tsimshian resources, technology and labour out of traditional production into the modern economy, where they were transformed and ultimately became dependent on the vagaries of a global market in which the Tsimshians had little or no control. The specific information in the dissertation explains how these processes occurred, how the independence of the old political economy was undermined, how an ostensibly "peaceful penetration" of the area occurred as a result, and how the Tsimshian responded by alternately accommodating and resisting the situation. === Arts, Faculty of === Anthropology, Department of === Graduate
author McDonald, James Andrew
author_facet McDonald, James Andrew
author_sort McDonald, James Andrew
title Trying to make a life : the historical political economy of Kitsumkalum
title_short Trying to make a life : the historical political economy of Kitsumkalum
title_full Trying to make a life : the historical political economy of Kitsumkalum
title_fullStr Trying to make a life : the historical political economy of Kitsumkalum
title_full_unstemmed Trying to make a life : the historical political economy of Kitsumkalum
title_sort trying to make a life : the historical political economy of kitsumkalum
publisher University of British Columbia
publishDate 2010
url http://hdl.handle.net/2429/25829
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