Feed the people and you will never go hungry: Illuminating Coast Salish economy of affection

Abstract

This thesis explores the nature of Coast Salish economy of affection through related concepts of wealth, freedom and unfreedom in Canada with the prospect that a better understanding of these concepts will enhance contemporary and future approaches to economic development that emerge out of Coast Salish values. Economic unfreedom emerged with introduction of the Potlatch Ban, and its residual impacts are prevalent today as discussed in Xá:m! Crying, weeping—the affective expression of grieving that shapes how the Coast Salish wisdom keepers in this research talk about gatherings. Economic freedom from within Coast Salish worldview is inherently spiritual by virtue of the interrelated nature of exchange between Xá:ls, the Creator, Sólh Téméxw, the river environment, and Xwélmexw, the river people. The author offers a theoretical exploration using the Capability Approach of the extent to which Coast Salish freedom depends on the removal of residual economic unfreedom for tómiyeqw, the seven generations of unborn Coast Salish people. This thesis makes a methodological contribution through the use of autoethnography, oral history and heuristic inquiry as a research methodology that places Coast Salish philosophies of knowledge transmission at the centre, by listening to the voices of the ancestors through their descendants. The research contextually explores Coast Salish economic capability embedded within the ceremonial institution of gatherings including: access to wealth founded in syewá:l, genealogy and Síwes, knowledge from the Teachings; having the ability to conduct spiritual ‘work’ in ceremony; engaging in spiritual exchange with Xá:ls, the Creator and ancient ancestors; and creating relationships through gifting, debt, saving and banking that weave Coast Salish people together in a continuous selfsustaining network of interdependence. Coast Salish freedom is expressed in gatherings facilitating exchange within and across a complex interplay of spiritual, environmental, socio-cultural and financial capabilities. This expression of Coast Salish economic freedom allows for becoming a whole person and whole peoples within an economy that encapsulates all aspects of spiritual, environmental, socio-cultural and economic capability. It is an economy of affection in which Coast Salish individuals and peoples are wholly seen and recognised.