RBCM Golden Reads discussion

1.Share something you learned that you didn't know before reading this collection.

2.Which essay from the collection stood out to you and why?

3.In her essay “Women in the Fraser and Cariboo Gold Rushes” historian Marie Elliott reminds us that First Nations women played a critical role in the survival of fur traders , and then for both male and female gold seekers. How do you think the participation of First Nations women made it “easier” for other women who came to the gold fields?

4.In “Conflict in the New El Dorado: The Fraser River War” historian Daniel Marshall asserts that mining was “the single greatest disruptor of native lands in the American West”. What other legacies of gold rush are visible on the landscape or in our communities?

5.A review of the book in BC Studies claims that “New Perspectives is a product of the tension in BC history caused by historians’ attempts to elevate alternative voices without disturbing cherished celebratory narratives. Doing justice to truly “new” perspectives of the gold rush means admitting to the existence of racism, discrimination, colonialism, and other unpalatable themes sidelined in this collection.” Did you feel this criticism is warranted?