Tsimshian Wil’naat’ał and Society: Historicising Tsimshian Social Organization

This chapter explores ways that the framework of current social issues has been shaped by the colonial administration of the indigenous people in BC. I argue that the colonial history on the Skeena River has shifted the focus of Tsimshian society from the land owning Houses and lineages of Tsimshian...

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Main Author: James A McDonald
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: New Proposals Publishing Society 2017-01-01
Series:New Proposals
Online Access:https://ojs.library.ubc.ca/index.php/newproposals/article/view/186140
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author James A McDonald
author_facet James A McDonald
author_sort James A McDonald
collection DOAJ
description This chapter explores ways that the framework of current social issues has been shaped by the colonial administration of the indigenous people in BC. I argue that the colonial history on the Skeena River has shifted the focus of Tsimshian society from the land owning Houses and lineages of Tsimshian sovereignty to the government settlements of the colonial period. During the time of Tsimshian sovereignty, the tribal communities were local associations of corporate groups called Houses or Wuwaap. The Indian Reserve system redefined ownership and shifted the corporate group from the Waap/House as recognized by Tsimshian ayaawx (common law) to the Indian Reserve Bands and villages as recognized under the British North America Act. This transformation conditions contemporary Tsimshian society. The argument is framed by historicising the three communities of Kitsumkalum, Lax Kw’alaams, and Metlakatla, and by demonstrating their interconnectedness.
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spelling doaj.art-69e22d9d30254a11990e839749ce79b42022-12-22T01:18:26ZengNew Proposals Publishing SocietyNew Proposals1715-67182017-01-0181Tsimshian Wil’naat’ał and Society: Historicising Tsimshian Social OrganizationJames A McDonald0UNBCThis chapter explores ways that the framework of current social issues has been shaped by the colonial administration of the indigenous people in BC. I argue that the colonial history on the Skeena River has shifted the focus of Tsimshian society from the land owning Houses and lineages of Tsimshian sovereignty to the government settlements of the colonial period. During the time of Tsimshian sovereignty, the tribal communities were local associations of corporate groups called Houses or Wuwaap. The Indian Reserve system redefined ownership and shifted the corporate group from the Waap/House as recognized by Tsimshian ayaawx (common law) to the Indian Reserve Bands and villages as recognized under the British North America Act. This transformation conditions contemporary Tsimshian society. The argument is framed by historicising the three communities of Kitsumkalum, Lax Kw’alaams, and Metlakatla, and by demonstrating their interconnectedness.https://ojs.library.ubc.ca/index.php/newproposals/article/view/186140
spellingShingle James A McDonald
Tsimshian Wil’naat’ał and Society: Historicising Tsimshian Social Organization
New Proposals
title Tsimshian Wil’naat’ał and Society: Historicising Tsimshian Social Organization
title_full Tsimshian Wil’naat’ał and Society: Historicising Tsimshian Social Organization
title_fullStr Tsimshian Wil’naat’ał and Society: Historicising Tsimshian Social Organization
title_full_unstemmed Tsimshian Wil’naat’ał and Society: Historicising Tsimshian Social Organization
title_short Tsimshian Wil’naat’ał and Society: Historicising Tsimshian Social Organization
title_sort tsimshian wil naat al and society historicising tsimshian social organization
url https://ojs.library.ubc.ca/index.php/newproposals/article/view/186140
work_keys_str_mv AT jamesamcdonald tsimshianwilnaatałandsocietyhistoricisingtsimshiansocialorganization