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CHAPTER 5 • Capitalism: Can It Be Indigenized?

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Engraved on Our Nations
This chapter is in the book Engraved on Our Nations
CHAPTER 5•Capitalism: Can It Be Indigenized?•Clifford Gordon AtleoMany would argue that studying economic development—with the purpose of practical and relevant analysis for Indigenous communities—requires a thorough understanding of the mainstream economies that we must interact with and/or resist. Without a doubt, capitalism is the dominant economic system and possibly the number one threat to Indigenous community health. Capitalism has been one of the primary means by which settler society has assaulted Indigenous lands and peoples. Since contact, Indigenous peoples have had complex and evolving economic relationships with European settlers. For a significant portion of the twentieth century, many Indigenous peoples resisted colonial efforts to exploit and extract resources, but in recent years, more Indigenous communities have begun to partner with resource extraction companies. Is this a form of economic justice or a nuanced form of imperialism that coopts the resistance of Indigenous peoples who have been effectively starved into submission? In this chapter, I explore how Indigenous communities have attempted to navigate capitalist economies and markets. I am also interested in how Indigenous people contend with capitalism to mitigate
© 2024, University of Manitoba Press

CHAPTER 5•Capitalism: Can It Be Indigenized?•Clifford Gordon AtleoMany would argue that studying economic development—with the purpose of practical and relevant analysis for Indigenous communities—requires a thorough understanding of the mainstream economies that we must interact with and/or resist. Without a doubt, capitalism is the dominant economic system and possibly the number one threat to Indigenous community health. Capitalism has been one of the primary means by which settler society has assaulted Indigenous lands and peoples. Since contact, Indigenous peoples have had complex and evolving economic relationships with European settlers. For a significant portion of the twentieth century, many Indigenous peoples resisted colonial efforts to exploit and extract resources, but in recent years, more Indigenous communities have begun to partner with resource extraction companies. Is this a form of economic justice or a nuanced form of imperialism that coopts the resistance of Indigenous peoples who have been effectively starved into submission? In this chapter, I explore how Indigenous communities have attempted to navigate capitalist economies and markets. I am also interested in how Indigenous people contend with capitalism to mitigate
© 2024, University of Manitoba Press

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter i
  2. CONTENTS v
  3. PREFACE • Exploring Indigenous Economic Tenacity in Canada ix
  4. INTRODUCTION • Indigenous Economic History as the History of Tenacity 1
  5. PART ONE • Strategic Leadership 23
  6. CHAPTER 1 • How Does First Nations Social and Economic Development Contribute to the Surrounding Region? A Case Study of Membertou 23
  7. CHAPTER 2 • Incremental Planning: The Tsawwassen First Nation Experience 70
  8. CHAPTER 3 • Fulfilling Treaty Promises: Treaty Land Entitlement and Muskeg Lake Cree Nation’s First Urban Reserve in Saskatoon 91
  9. PART TWO • Culturally on Point
  10. CHAPTER 4 • Trading on Tradition: Innovative Indigenous Enterprise 121
  11. CHAPTER 5 • Capitalism: Can It Be Indigenized? 144
  12. CHAPTER 6 • The Challenges and Opportunities for First Nations Economic Self-Determination within British Columbia 170
  13. PART THREE • Family Connections
  14. CHAPTER 7 • Honouring Entrepreneurial Resilience: Atlantic Region Lifetime Achievers 215
  15. CHAPTER 8 • A Métis Light in the Northern Darkness: A Case Study 237
  16. CHAPTER 9 • Neechi Commons Case Study: A Lost Love Letter to Winnipeg 246
  17. PART FOUR • Partnering for Success
  18. CHAPTER 10 • Tahltan Economic Tenacity: From Affluence to Poverty to Affluence 261
  19. CHAPTER 11 • Stronger Together: First Nations– Municipality Community Collaborations1 276
  20. CONCLUSION • What Have We Learned about Indigenous Tenacity? 303
  21. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 309
  22. CONTRIBUTORS 313
  23. SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY 315
  24. INDEX 333
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https://doi.org/10.1515/9781772840636-008

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter i
  2. CONTENTS v
  3. PREFACE • Exploring Indigenous Economic Tenacity in Canada ix
  4. INTRODUCTION • Indigenous Economic History as the History of Tenacity 1
  5. PART ONE • Strategic Leadership 23
  6. CHAPTER 1 • How Does First Nations Social and Economic Development Contribute to the Surrounding Region? A Case Study of Membertou 23
  7. CHAPTER 2 • Incremental Planning: The Tsawwassen First Nation Experience 70
  8. CHAPTER 3 • Fulfilling Treaty Promises: Treaty Land Entitlement and Muskeg Lake Cree Nation’s First Urban Reserve in Saskatoon 91
  9. PART TWO • Culturally on Point
  10. CHAPTER 4 • Trading on Tradition: Innovative Indigenous Enterprise 121
  11. CHAPTER 5 • Capitalism: Can It Be Indigenized? 144
  12. CHAPTER 6 • The Challenges and Opportunities for First Nations Economic Self-Determination within British Columbia 170
  13. PART THREE • Family Connections
  14. CHAPTER 7 • Honouring Entrepreneurial Resilience: Atlantic Region Lifetime Achievers 215
  15. CHAPTER 8 • A Métis Light in the Northern Darkness: A Case Study 237
  16. CHAPTER 9 • Neechi Commons Case Study: A Lost Love Letter to Winnipeg 246
  17. PART FOUR • Partnering for Success
  18. CHAPTER 10 • Tahltan Economic Tenacity: From Affluence to Poverty to Affluence 261
  19. CHAPTER 11 • Stronger Together: First Nations– Municipality Community Collaborations1 276
  20. CONCLUSION • What Have We Learned about Indigenous Tenacity? 303
  21. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 309
  22. CONTRIBUTORS 313
  23. SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY 315
  24. INDEX 333
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