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Prophecy, power and change : meetings between the Skwxwú7mesh and Tsimshian in the early 20th century

University of British Columbia

This dissertation concerns the significance of the inter-tribal liaisons developed by the early twentieth century between the Coast Salish Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) and other First Nations, in particular the Tsimshian of northern British Columbia. Both the interrelationships among Coast Salish tribes, and the concept of leadership not fixed by residential boundaries, play roles in the relationships forged between the Skwxwú7mesh and the Tsimshian. Drawing throughout the thesis on a methodology that attends to Indigenous agency, Chapter One provides a background to these liaisons, with the incursions into Salishan territories by Oblate missionaries. Here I stress the ongoing significance of the indigenous Prophet Dance complexes that co-existed with Oblate Catholic practices, and I examine both the Oblate-organized inter-tribal gatherings, and the performances of Passion Plays that received international media attention. Chapters Two and Three investigate the ways in which Chiefs Sa7plek of the Skwxwú7mesh and Bradley of the Tsimshian come into relation with other First Nations, at civic, national and Empire-based events. Here I consider the Brass Bands of the Skwxwú7mesh and the Tsimshian during a major fishing strike and subsequent Labour Day parade in Vancouver in 1900, and again in 1901, when a Chiefs’ address is given to royal representatives of the Crown. Building on these public politicized interventions and cultural exchanges, I conclude with the 1906 Salishan Chiefs' Delegation to London to petition King Edward VII concerning First Nation title and rights. The legacy of the Prophet Dance prophecies with their visions of the future, are here brought into play.

Text

2025-04-30

Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International

http://hdl.handle.net/2429/60153

Art History

University of British Columbia

UBCV

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/