1. Tell the occupation of each of the following prominent citizens of Barkerville.

  James Anderson         ____________________________

  Matthew Begbie        ____________________________

  Billy Ballou                ____________________________

  Ralph Chetwynd       ____________________________

2. Find out the historical accuracy of the lyrics to Cariboo Pay Dirt.

3. Read the book of poems, Sawney’s  Letters, written by a Barkerville poet whose name appears above.

4. List the business and services that would be needed to support people working in the Cariboo gold fields in the 1860s.

5. Research the Chinese community in Barkerville.

6. Discuss the differences between placer mining and hard rock mining.

7. Find out what $600,000. in the 1860s would be worth today.

8. Visit the gold mining exhibit in the Royal British Columbia Museum and see a replica of the largest nugget found in the Cariboo.

9. Visit the provincial historic park at Barkerville to see the reconstructed buildings and the site of Billy Barker’s mine.

10. Try panning for gold at the B.C. Mining Museum at Britannia Beach.

The Cariboo Gold Rush
Chinese Miners
Mining Technology
Song: Cariboo Pay Dirt
Learning Activities
Extension and Research Activities
Resource List

Billy Barker