A First Nations Family with Sluice boxes and rockers; Looking for gold on the Fraser River

A First Nations Family with Sluice boxes and rockers; Looking for gold on the Fraser River

British Columbia
Gold Rush
Natives
Fraser River
Gold

This image shows a group of 7 First Nation people searching for gold in the Fraser River. Both men and women are active in the search for gold on the river beds. The Author is described as the British Columbia Provincial secretary, suggesting that this was an officially sanctioned image taken to be used as either promotional or documentary material. The Fraser River was a very popular place among miners for finding gold. The people in this image are using a ‘Rocker Box’, a tool used to separate placer gold from ordinary sand and gravel. At least 3 of these tools can be seen in the image, showing that not only were native Americans involved in the search for Gold in the Fraser River, but they were well equipped to do so too.

British Columbia. Dept. of the Provincial Secretary

Royal BC Museum, Bureau of Mines photograph albums, item I-55718

http://search-bcarchives.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/first-nations-family-with-sluice-boxes-and-rockers-looking-for-gold-on-fraser-river-miscellaneous-b-album

1895

Robert Catarinicchia

Images courtesy of BC Archives Collections
Provided for research purposes only. Other use requires permission

N/A

Visual - photograph

19th century British Columbia