Abstract

Between 1957 and 1969, print media portrayed construction of a large dam on the Peace River in northern British Columbia as necessary for economic development, while failing to discuss repercussions for the Sekani, who lived in the valley that would be flooded. This thesis analyzes the role of press structure and journalistic practice in shaping coverage of the development. It reveals that mainstream presses showed significant interest in aboriginal issues, yet ignored the potential consequences of the dam for the Sekani despite concerns raised at the time, particularly by an aboriginal press seeking to politicize the general public. Stories influenced by newspaper structure and practice instead portrayed development as having no negative consequences and marginalization of "Indians" as unrelated to industrial resource exploitation. This study contributes to our understanding of aboriginal history and the history of hydroelectric development during a period of significant change in mass media in Canada.