This study deals with the changing dynamics of land use systems in an aboriginal
community of British Columbia, namely the Lil'wat Nation, by employing the concept of
property as an analytical tool. The focus on the concept of property clarifies the role played by
the authority and institutions as regulators and decision-making factors in land use management.
The description of the relationship between property and various transitions in aboriginal life
constitutes the main contribution of this research project.
The methodology used in this descriptive study is a combination of the participantobserver
method and archival data collection. Issues around authority are discussed in terms of
the power relationship between Canada and the Lil'wat Nation. Several historical events explain
the way in which political and economic imperatives have shaped the relationship between the
Lil'wat Nation and Canada, as well as the internal power relationship within the aboriginal
community.
It is found that the rapid and important changes in the decision-making situation (i.e.,
context of institution change) have significantly affected the land use projects on reserve
grounds. Those changes include: high rate of population growth, extension of a money economy
through forestry and agricultural activities, and exercise of various outside interests on reserve
lands. Also, it is found that a number of governmental initiatives created and perpetuated a state
of dependency and dissension among the aboriginal community.
Since land use practices cannot be viewed in isolation, this study emphasizes the
importance of political reform and sharing of authority. Also, some strategies for Lil'wat's selfdetermination
are identified and the urgency to develop community-based economic projects is
stressed.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:BVAU.2429/8566 |
| Date | 05 1900 |
| Creators | Nemoto, Akihiko |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Relation | UBC Retrospective Theses Digitization Project [http://www.library.ubc.ca/archives/retro_theses/] |
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