Fisheries
True or False: before widespread colonization, First Nations communities in BC maintained healthy salmon stocks by regulating who could fish and how many fish could be caught.
True. This is done today by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO).
In BC, which forests provided the most valuable wood and were logged first?
Old growth forests.
What material was mined most on Vancouver island during the 1800s and 1900s?
Coal.
What was the purpose of this office?
To manage the land and resources of BC.
What family of fish species was a staple of the diets of coastal Indigenous communities in BC?
Salmon (Coho, Sockeye, Pink, Chum, Chinook).
Why are First Nations communities in BC most impacted by wildfires and fire management practices?
Because they are often isolated and exist in areas of the province which are prone to fire ignition and spread.
During what time period (give a range) did coal mining take place on Vancouver island?
Late 1800s to 1960s.
The colonial approach of resource management was different from the sustainable relationships that ______________ have with the lands and waters.
First Nations and Indigenous peoples.
Were First Nations communities allowed to continue their traditional fishing practices once the Canadian government had established their own regulations?
Nope. The government forbade these practices.
In the present, what percentage of BC’s land area is forested?
Around 60%.
Which crucial natural resource is most affected by the mining industry?
Water. This includes both fresh and salt water sources.
Who was allowed to work in this natural resource office?
White European colonial officials.
In 1908, the Pacific Biological Station for marine biology research was established in which city on Vancouver Island?
Nanaimo.
Starting in the mid 1900s, what logging practices led to widespread deforestation in BC?
Clear-cutting.
Which famous BC figure had control over the mining companies on Vancouver island during the late 1800s?
A. Robert Dunsmuir
B. Roderick Finlayson
C. James Douglas
D. George Blenkinsop
Robert Dunsmuir, who used this fortune to build Craigdaroch castle in Victoria. Notoriously not an awesome business owner due to his unethical practices.
What racial minority was commonly employed by the colonial government to complete the dangerous job of railway construction?
Asian immigrants.
In the late 1800s, what popular misconception about salmon spawning contributed to the decline of these fish populations in BC.
Fishers believed that salmon could (and did) spawn more than once in their lifetimes.
The BC government is beginning to work with which communities to build more sustainable forestry practices?
First Nations and Indigenous peoples.
In the present (2025), what resource makes up the biggest proportion of BCs natural resource export market?
Coal.
Why was so much traditional Indigenous knowledge around resource management lost in the 1800s and 1900s?
Colonial government regulations that banned traditional practices. This, paired with residential schooling of First Nations and Indigenous children meant that experts from these communities were unable to pass on their knowledge.