Until first contact, Nlaka'pamux or indigenous business was not measured in dollars, but in "dry fish" and trade in surplus tools, clothing and art and there was a "labor exchange". So, a barter economy thrived.
In June 1808 (first contact), Simon Fraser observed many artifacts in our region like buffalo robes, beads and knives. In 1810, the Hudson Bay Company in Kamloops was recording sales to indigenous people in sides of dry salmon. The original barter economy was eventually overtaken by a wage and market system (but never fully disappeared) so Kanaka had to work and do business in "dollars and cents". Our ancestors warned though that we can't eat money.
Therefore, we continue to harvest traditonal foods, grow and process new foods and make tools etc and trade surplus plus "work". We fully appreciate that the wage/market won't go away and electricity is not free and neither is gas, wifi and Walmart. Last we heard, BC hydro was not taking sun dried tomatoes in lieu of dollars either.
Thus, Kanaka is incrementally managing (growing) its money through business deals, selling products and services and making strategic investments. We also manage a 7th Generation Fund so that in case there are hard times and government transfer dollars decline or end, our children and grandchildren will have a contingency fund to call on.