Lheidli T'enneh Perspectives on Resource Development
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THE PARADOX OF DEVELOPMENT: LHEIDLI T'ENNEH PERSPECTIVES ON RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT by Geoffrey E.D. Hughes B.A., Northern Studies, University of Northern British Columbia, 2002 THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN FIRST NATIONS STUDIES UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN BRITISH COLUMBIA November 2011 © Geoffrey Hughes, 2011 Library and Archives Bibliotheque et Canada Archives Canada Published Heritage Direction du 1+1 Branch Patrimoine de I'edition 395 Wellington Street 395, rue Wellington Ottawa ON K1A0N4 Ottawa ON K1A 0N4 Canada Canada Your file Votre reference ISBN: 978-0-494-87547-6 Our file Notre reference ISBN: 978-0-494-87547-6 NOTICE: AVIS: The author has granted a non L'auteur a accorde une licence non exclusive exclusive license allowing Library and permettant a la Bibliotheque et Archives Archives Canada to reproduce, Canada de reproduire, publier, archiver, publish, archive, preserve, conserve, sauvegarder, conserver, transmettre au public communicate to the public by par telecommunication ou par I'lnternet, preter, telecommunication or on the Internet, distribuer et vendre des theses partout dans le loan, distrbute and sell theses monde, a des fins commerciales ou autres, sur worldwide, for commercial or non support microforme, papier, electronique et/ou commercial purposes, in microform, autres formats. paper, electronic and/or any other formats. The author retains copyright L'auteur conserve la propriete du droit d'auteur ownership and moral rights in this et des droits moraux qui protege cette these. Ni thesis. Neither the thesis nor la these ni des extraits substantiels de celle-ci substantial extracts from it may be ne doivent etre imprimes ou autrement printed or otherwise reproduced reproduits sans son autorisation. without the author's permission. In compliance with the Canadian Conformement a la loi canadienne sur la Privacy Act some supporting forms protection de la vie privee, quelques may have been removed from this formulaires secondaires ont ete enleves de thesis. cette these. While these forms may be included Bien que ces formulaires aient inclus dans in the document page count, their la pagination, il n'y aura aucun contenu removal does not represent any loss manquant. of content from the thesis. Canada i Abstract In 2006 Enbridge's Gateway Pipeline project was one of six proposed pipelines to cross the Lheidli traditional territory in British Columbia, Canada. This, however, was not the first foray of oil and gas development in the territory as there were already two pipelines laid right through the middle of the Lheidli Indian Reserve #2. The initial purpose of my research was to examine how the Lheidli T'enneh First Nation view oil and gas development within their traditional territory in light of Enbridge's plans. However, during the interview process in 2006,1 realized that the research topic was too narrowly defined, as community members (Chief Dominic Frederick, Ron Seymour, Margaret Gagnon, Mary John, Violet Bozoki, Frank Frederick, Curtis Seymour, Vanessa West, Deryl Seymour, Rena Zatorski, Corinna Joseph, and Irvin Gagnon) did not talk specifically about the Gateway Project. Rather, they spoke about development on a broad scale as it has affected them and their community. Therefore this thesis ended up being about the paradox of development. The community retains ideas of traditional stewardship but also sees the need for or inevitability of economic development within their territory. The Lheidli community is concerned that the jobs that they need will destroy the very land, plants and animals that sustain their culture. Younger generations note the need for jobs despite their own deep rooted respect for the elders' opinions of protective stewardship. They too retain these values. Although arguing for a need for increased employment they are not arguing for modernist development. Rather they would like to have employment and a healthy land base. The key issues revealed in the research include the challenges of consultation, capacity building and community development in the face of industrial development and government programs and policies that interfere with traditional Lheidli practices. In order to properly understand why participants are in the position that they are in, it is necessary to view Lheidli T'enneh and Dakelh history, and then listen to their voices to show where the community is today and why they have the concerns they do. ii Table of Contents Abstract i Table of Contents ii Acknowledgements iv Dedication v Chapter 1 Introduction to the Topic, Literature and Methodology Introduction 1 My Interest in the Research 2 Positioning Myself in First Nations Studies 4 Case Studies of Oil and Gas Development in First Nations Contexts 7 Consultation, Legal Challenges and Changes 10 Lheidli Land Claims 15 Theory and Methodology Used 16 Who I Interviewed, Changes in the Questions Asked and Methodology 21 Summary 24 Chapter 2 History and Geography: The "Dakelh" and Lheidli Peoples in the Context of Development Background on the Dakelh (Carrier) 26 Background to the Lheidli T'enneh 29 The Lheidli T'enneh Resource Base 32 Dakelh Stewardship and Respect 34 "Exploration" and Colonization of the Prince George Region 35 BC Policy towards Indian Land & Ceremony 37 Lheidli T'enneh Relocation 40 The Lheidli T'enneh and European Disease 43 Lheidli T'enneh and Schooling 45 Colonial / Settler Impacts on Lheidli Health and Livelihood 48 Outside Economies and Development on Lheidli Traditional Territories 51 Conclusions 59 Chapter 3 What the Lheidli Participants Said in Their Interviews Scope and Questions 61 1: Lheidli T'enneh Views on Oil and Gas and Resource Development 63 2: The Present Problems with Consultation as Seen by the Participants 72 3: The Difference in Opinion on Development between Senior Elders and Urbanized Adults 79 4: Problems with Development and Protecting the Land Base in a Pro- Development environment 86 Summary of the Responses 91 Chapter 4 Summary, Comments and Conclusions 93 Bibliography 99 iii Appendix A Ethics Approval Form and Information Sheet Given to the Lheidli 111 Appendix B Actual Questions Asked Each Participant 119 Appendix C Lheidli T'enneh Community Interview Transcripts 123 Mary John Rena Zatorski Ron Seymour Violet Bozoki Curtis Seymour Irvin Gagnon Vanessa West & Deryl Seymour Corinna Joseph Chief Dominic Frederick Frank Frederick Margaret Gagnon Appendix D Lheidli Traditional Territory Map 175 Appendix E Definitions of First Nation and Community 176 Appendix F Oil and gas Impact tables 177 iv Acknowledgements When thinking about who I want to thank for supporting my goals of writing this document there are many individuals. I would like to thank the Lheidli T'enneh community, and Chief Dominic Frederick and council, for allowing me access into their community. Of course I owe a debt of gratitude to my participant Lheidli community members: Chief Dominic Frederick, the late Ron Seymour, the late Margaret Gagnon, Violet Bozoki, Frank Frederick, Rena Zatorski, Vanessa West, Deryl Seymour, Curtis Seymour, Corinna Joseph, Irvin Gagnon, and the late Mary John. This thesis would not exist without their honest and open input. I was honoured they all found time to speak with me, and am indebted for their participation. I would also like to thank my supervisors Wendy Aasen and Dr. Antonia Mills for having the patience and foresight to allow this document to evolve into the thesis presented here today. I would also like to thank my external committee member Dr. Gary Wilson, an excellent academic whose feedback has been invaluable. Additionally, I would like to thank the Lheidli community and Chief Dominic Frederick for access to the Place Names and Oral History Project, without which Prince George's history would lack the voice of the Lheidli T'enneh, and the area's true full history. In addition, I want to recognize the work of Wendy Aasen, project coordinator/ researcher, and community members Patti Bjorklund, Elizabeth Bjorklund, Elaine Roberts, Vanessa West (Bozoki), and Jaqueline Gouchie, whose work enabled the voice of the Lheidli Elders to be recorded and placed on record. It is also important to thank, posthumously, Mary John who predeceased this thesis but whose voice and life experiences were captured through her publications and the interview just prior to her death. V Dedication During the writing of this thesis two participant Lheidli members, Margaret Gagnon and Ron Seymour, unfortunately passed away, as did my own father, Barry Hughes. It is to their memory that this thesis is dedicated. 1 Chapter 1 Introduction to the Topic, Literature and Methodology Introduction In this thesis, I present the paradox of development for the Lheidli T'enneh of the Prince George region of British Columbia, based on an examination of the development of the region and the interviews I conducted with Lheidli T'enneh community members of three different generations. It illustrates how Lheidli T'enneh First Nation community members view development within their traditional territory, what they view as positive development for their community and the paradox and challenges associated with it. Conclusions are based on what Lheidli members said in the interviews I conducted with 12 people, either Band members or, in the case of Mary John, born and raised as a Lheidli member but married into Saik'uz. I begin with an examination of the history of development in Canada and the Lheidli T'enneh region. Throughout history, Canada has been a nation of resource development and extraction. Morris Zaslow (1988), a historian of Canada's hinterlands, wrote that Canada has a history of northern development that has shifted through the landscape, with the passage of time. Chief Justice Thomas Berger (1977) building on the work of historians like Zaslow, wrote that Canadian development comprises the industrial machine moving through the hinterland and commodifying nature to be exploited by a populace outside the zone of extraction.