Indians at Work: An Informal History of Native Labour in British Columbia, 1858-1930

by Rolf Knight

Indians at Work provides an historical background to native labour in BC from the Gold Rush to the beginning of the Great Depression. It counters the common misconception that native people responded to European settlement and industrial development by retreating to a reserve existence. Evidence amassed from logging, transport, construction, longshoring, commercial fishing and canning, and a host of other industries shows that native Indians played...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0921586507
• ISBN13: 9780921586500
• Release Date: October 1996
• Publisher: New Star Books
• Length: 397 Pages
• Weight: 1.25 lbs.

Customer Reviews

an interesting and insightful read

I have read numerous books on the subject of native peoples but none has dealt with the reality of being an indian as well as Knight has. His historical perspective is well rounded and complete, he has taken great pains to treat Indians not as historical footnotes but as people who cope, and adapt with the realities of thier changing sociotal landscape. He has presented a comprehensive insight into the working lives of Indians pre-contact and has dispelled the foggy myths that have been the hall mark of books dealing with this subject. He has shown a keen understanding of the role of Indians in BC's emerging industires, and made it easy to read to boot. I highly recommend this book for anyone who is tired of reading about tipees and totem poles.