Social and environmental change at Hells Gate, British Columbia

Abstract

This paper analyzes the contestation of a resource—salmon—and a site—Hells Gate, British Columbia, Canada—in a context of rapid environmental change. The focus is the Fraser River and its salmon fisheries during and following landslides at Hells Gate from 1912 to 1914. The landslides obstructed salmon migrations and affected salmon populations in future spawning cycles. Different social groups debated the causes and consequences of the landslides and vied for access to and control of Hells Gate and the salmon.