“We give them seaweed”: Social economic exchange and resilience in Northwestern North America

Abstract

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family: " times="" new="" roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"times="" roman";mso-bidi-font-family:="" mangal;mso-ansi-language:en-gb;mso-fareast-language:en-us;mso-bidi-language:="" hi"="" lang="EN-GB">First Peoples of Northwestern North America have a long tradition of exchange governed by formal and informal cultural institutions. Plants and botanical products have been a major component of this tradition. Not just economic transactions, the exchange systems were parts of a complex cultural economy that provided dietary diversity, more knowledge and technologies, opportunities for enhanced intergroup relationships, new beliefs and perspectives, and greater resilience in times of instability. These systems changed dramatically with the arrival of Europeans into the region, with new products being incorporated. Ultimately, however, the cultural economy of First Peoples diminished as they acculturated into mainstream society and into the globalized, industrialized economy. Nevertheless, elements of the original cultural economy exist to the present day. Three major components of these systems include: a philosophy of mutual reciprocity; differing needs and access to different resources and/or skills by individuals and communities; and opportunities for interaction and communication where exchange can occur in culturally appropriate ways. Through helping to create and maintain these conditions, all of society can provide meaningful support for First Nations’ cultural renewal and well-being.</span>