We know very little about aboriginal views of sexuality although it seems certain that aboriginal sexuality was characterized in a very different way than the European perception. However, this sexuality cannot be discussed universally since the various tribes did not all treat the subject the same way.  What follows is a brief sketch gleaned largely from the research of Jennifer Windecker.
            For example, the matrilineal Ts’msyen and Nisg’a tribes considered men and women to be economic and social equals in contributing to the community.  Sexually relations with high ranking women was seen to be positive for both men and women and was accompanied by gift exchanges. On the other hand, in other tribes pre-marital chasity and most marital fidelity were demanded, especially of women from high-ranking families.   Despite these differences, one distinction of Aboriginal sexuality that does remain consistent is the lack of social stigma around the topic (Windecker).  Many place names contain sexual references and many of the traditional stories included references to sexual behaviour.  A strong sense of sexuality permeated Aboriginal life before Europeans came along, viewed it was viewed in a positive light (Windecker).
            Before white men entered the scene, pre- or extra-marital sexual activity was honoured among certain peoples with public gifts to her or her family.    Upon the arrival of whites, the use of sexuality as a lucrative income became exploited during the fur trade and institutionalized during the gold rush through dance houses among a small percentage of Aboriginal women. 
            Gold rush “prostitution” involved the coerced use of slave women but  free women also found they could exchange sex for wealth and earnings by sexual echange reached an all time high.  A few Indigenous women acquired new goods, and likely elevated status, amongst her people. (Windecker).   Regardless of the fact that every such sexual exchange involved a European as well as an indigenous person, white society applied the stigma to the Aboriginal women. The sexualization of Native women was often based on the needs and desires, physical, social, or financial, of the men in power (JB “Taming” 258).

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