In history, interactions between communities have been shown to change over time, impacting their socio-cultural and economic developments. Miller undertakes a study on the history of Aboriginals in Canada, where He answers his question by indicating that history teaches us how collaboration and conflict affect people’s well-being.
He discovers that early ties were marked by cooperation: both the Aboriginals and the Canadian colonists stood to gain the most from collaboration while maintaining their autonomy. This was true for both business relationships–particularly during the fur trade and in military matters. The shift in the 19th century left both parties in disadvantaged positions due to the colonialists’ encroachment on Aboriginal lands.