[Bcma-l] Fraser River War Symposium shines light on shadowy chapter in B.C.'s past, Sept. 21-23

[bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca]

*Folks:*

**

Please find pasted below the details for our upcoming symposium on the 
Fraser River War. If you can circulate this as widely as possible, it 
would help us get a significant number of attendees. It promises to be 
quite an event and we already have interest growing, so let's keep 
building on the buzz.

Cheers,

Don Hauka

**

**

*Fraser River War Symposium *

**

*Where:* Lytton, B.C.

*When: * September 22-23, 2007

*What: *The first major academic symposium on the Fraser River War of

August, 1858, a critical but largely unexplored event in Canadian

history.

*Why: *A significant step in the aboriginal reconciliation process and the

first major effort to shine light on a shadowy chapter of our past.

*Who: *Co-hosted by the Lytton First Nation and the New Pathways To

Gold Society Education Caucus (Chair Dr. Dan Marshall). The NPTGS is a 
community-based organization dedicated to continued reconciliation with 
First Nations, investment in B.C. heritage and economic development.

*Presenters: Dr. R. Cole Harris* (Professor Emeritus, Geography Department,

University of B.C. )* *

*Marianne Ignace* (Simon Fraser University)

*Dr. Keith Carlson* (University of Saskatchewan)

*Sonny McAlsie* (Sto:lo First Nation)

*Dr. Doug Harris* (University of B.C. Law Faculty)

*Ken Favrholdt* (Thompson Rivers University)

*Rick Blacklaws* (Langara College)

*Dr. Daniel Marshall* (University of Victoria)

*Background: *

**

In 1858, some thirty to forty thousand gold seekers flooded in to the 
Fraser Canyon and environs. The First Nations mounted an all-out defence 
of indigenous land and gold, blockading the Fraser itself to foreign 
intrusion, culminating in the Fraser River War in August of that year. 
Many lives were lost, both Native and non-Native, until a peace was 
finally concluded in Lytton by Chief Spintlum of the Nlaka'pamux First 
Nation and Henry Snyder, the Captain of the American militia forces.

*Objectives:*

    * To give First Nations' spokespeople and academics an opportunity
      to present a variety of viewpoints on this watershed moment in our
      past and examine the lasting legacies of this conflict that are
      still being felt today.
    * Sharing different perspectives on this seminal moment in B.C.
      history will assist the reconciliation process and creates a
      better understanding between First Nations and other communities.
    * To raise the profile of this moment in history when moderates on
      both sides of the conflict managed to find a peaceful solution
      despite very heavy odds against them.
    * To elevate the role of First Nations leaders such as Chief
      Spintlum as co-founders of modern British Columbia.
    * To bring to the public’s attention little-known but significant
      facts that informed the conduct of Natives and non-natives in the
      tumultuous times of 1858 -- for instance, that Native peoples were
      the first discoverers of gold in B.C. and had been actively mining
      the resource years prior to the rush.

The symposium is the first academic conference organized by the NPTGS.

*Program:*

**

*Friday evening: Official welcome/ reception*

*Saturday:*

*Session One:* Pre-contact, pre-1858 world (8:30-10:00am)

*Session Two:* The gold rush and Fraser River War/conflict (10:30-12:00)

**

*Lunch and showing of Cole Harris documentary: "Remaking the Fraser." 
(12:00-1:30pm)*

*Session Three:* After the gold rush (1:30-3:00pm)

*Session Four:* New Directions toward reconciliation (3:30-5:00pm)

*Dinner:* Keynote speaker/entertainment (6:30-9:30pm)

*Sunday:* Fraser River War Raft Expedition, Lytton to Yale.

*For more information or to register, please contact:*

**

**

Don Hauka, NPTG Communications: 604-524-1884 or;

ddclauka@shaw.ca <mailto:ddclauka@shaw.ca>

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