Aboriginal values, sacred landscapes, and resource development in the Cariboo Chilcotin region of BC.

The Aboriginal values and epistemologies of Indigenous peoples in the Cariboo and Chilcotin region of British Columbia are nested within one of the province's resource development hinterlands. These geographic locations are the birthplace of various cultures, legends, and stories of Indigenous groups. Resource developments at these locations continue to highlight the collision of values arising from urban-remote interactions. Using a hybrid approach of grounded theory and Indigenous research methodology, this dissertation uses two case studies to capture (1) the struggles and resistance of the Indigenous Tsilhqot'in communities as they defend their land against an incumbent mining company and (2) insights into Aboriginal community planning through documenting the Nazko First Nation's Comprehensive Community Planning process. Major themes addressed in this study are (1) Aboriginal values expressed during a Federal Panel Assessment of a proposed mine development in the Cariboo Chilcotin region (2) the contemporary culture of the Tsilhqot'in people including how some women continue to survive on the land and (3) geothermal energy as a potential primary resource. Outcomes of this research study highlight the critical Aboriginal values within the Cariboo Chilcotin region, and how these values are important considerations in resource development decisions. These outcomes provide new insights into how cultural values are embedded within traditional activities and landscapes. Furthermore, the findings show that despite contemporary challenges, community values continue to influence resource development considerations and choices made by the Aboriginal people. This research concludes with new theory propositions about Native Space and why the location and ecological footprint of resource development within the traditional territories of Aboriginal people are important in meeting the needs of their daily lives. --Leaf ii.