Tobacco, Sumas Lake, and Stó:lō History: Land, Labour, and Agriculture in the Fraser Valley (UFV Professor)

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Schedule

Date Range

2026-10-01

Time

10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Once

Availability

33 spots

Description

Join UFV professor Dr. Tarsia and explore Fraser Valley history in this engaging presentation on tobacco farming in Sumas Prairie during the 1920s and 1930s. It examines how the draining of Semá:th Xó:tsa (Sumas Lake) transformed Stó:lō lands and enabled agricultural expansion. Through archival sources and historical images, the talk highlights Indigenous wage labour, migration, and the broader impacts of settler-colonial land use. This presentation offers a compelling look at how environment, economy, and culture intersected in Stó:lō Téméxw.