Emerging and Lost Opportunities
The role of Aboriginal people in the Canadian economy is coming
full circle.
From time immemorial, vibrant Aboriginal economies supported a
strong trade network throughout North America. In fact, the Fraser
River was a major trade corridor. This changed with the arrival of
Europeans: fur economies centralized trade and communities around
outposts and forts; disease decimated the Aboriginal population;
racist government policies led to internment on reserve; and many
instruments of the Aboriginal economy became illegal (the Potlach
Ban, for example, was Canadian law from 1885-1951).
While many of these wrongs have yet to be adequately addressed,
Aboriginal economies are once again dominating the Canadian
economic landscape. Decisions such as Delgamuukw and Haida created room for Aboriginal
groups to lever the doctrines of consultation and accommodation
into meaningful participation in development. The historic Tsilhqot'in decision,
