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Neighbours and networks: the Blood tribe in the southern Alberta economy, 1884-1939

2010; Association of College and Research Libraries; Volume: 47; Issue: 05 Linguagem: Inglês

10.5860/choice.47-2773

1943-5975

W. Keith Regular,

American Literature and Culture

This history focuses on the economic association between the Blood Indians and their neighbours in southern Alberta from the 1880s through the 1930s.Canadian historiography has yet much to detail regarding the economic associations between Natives and non-Natives sharing an environment and experiencing an integrated economic.I posit the argument that the Bloods and their reserve, contrary to general perceptions of Native reserves, have at times played more than a minor role in the regional development of southern Alberta.The Bloods have influenced the economic circumstances in which Natives and newcomers found themselves in the post-treaty period on the Canadian Plains.The Blood tribe and their large reservation were a significant factor in the southern Alberta region in which they were located.Their land base was important to the nascent and established ranching industry near the reserve during the 1880s through the period of the Great Depression.The products of the Blood reserve, especially coal and hay, were commodities in demand by settlers, and the Bloods were encouraged to provide them as needed.The Bloods became expert freighters and the local community sought them out to transport the much-needed produce from the reserve and to transship goods for non-Native entrepreneurs.Blood field labour in the Raymond area sugar beet fields was at times critical to the functioning of that industry.Their availability and willingness to work was a deciding factor in the operations of the Knight Sugar Company, especially during the first decade of operations.Finally, the Bloods' ties to the merchant community, particularly in Cardston and Fort Macleod, resulted in a significant infusion of money into the local economy.Importantly, much of this cash resulted from the personal wealth of the Bloods and was not a consequence of Department of Indian Affairs charity.The Bloods were not a drain on the local resources but were important contributors to the developing economy of the region.The relationship that the Bloods had with local merchants was very much like that of their White neighbours -interdependent.Unfortunately the Department of Indian Affairs did not recognize the potential of the reserve to serve the needs of the Bloods, or at least did not let this recognition mitigate their policies of restriction and paternalism.Had they done so the fortunes of the Bloods, and many other Native xvi NEIGHBOURS AND NETWORKS reserves, might be now much different.So too might there be greater recognition of the part played by Natives in regional economies.Scholarly inquiry is not a lonely endeavour and my efforts in this case are no exception.Many individuals and organizations are owed a debt of gratitude for their valuable assistance and contribution to this project.The archivists and staff of the Library and Archives of Canada, Provincial Archives of Alberta, and the Glenbow Archives were very helpful.My friend Douglas Cass at the Glenbow Archives is deserving of special mention