Fur Trade: Annotated Bibliography

Annotated Bibliography

The fur trade is a significant event in the history of Canada. History provides the clearest evidence of how a particular form of production - in this case animal furs- can influence not only the development of an economy, but a country’s social, cultural, and political organizations as well. In terms of knowledge about the fur trade, most of it is based on the perspective of the white fur traders who adventured to Canada to trap animals and conquer territory. It is important to understand the events of the fur trade, but in doing so it is equally imperative to look at the ways the Indigenous people contributed. Their perspective is often disregarded when looking at this historical event. From helping traders navigate

territory to working in the companies, Indigenous people held a crucial role. Without their knowledge and assistance, the fur traders would have succumbed to the harsh North American climate, terrain, and diseases caused by nutritional deficiencies. The Indigenous people were an integral part in the survival of the fur traders, but their way of life was negatively impacted by the trading of natural resources in Canada. In this paper, various aspects of the fur trade will be discussed in detail, they include: A timeline of events of the fur trade in Canada, the significant role of both Indigenous men and women in the fur trade, and how through their important role they were taken advantage of as the fur trade ended – thus impacting their way of life.
Notzke, C. (1994). Aboriginal Peoples and Natural Resources in Canada. North York, Ont.: Captus University Publications.
This source explores the opportunities and limitations that Indigenous peoples encountered in their efforts to use water resources, fisheries, forestry resources, wildlife, land and non-renewable resources.

It looks at the Indigenous people in the past as well as the present, and the natural resources available to them in Canada. It is relevant because it explores the ways in which those natural resources have changed over time and how the Indigenous people have had to adapt and change their way of life. Although this source does not necessarily talk directly about the fur trade, it is important to look at how the Indigenous people are living today compared to how they lived in the past. Thus, the fur trade becomes the pivotal moment where fur traders began impacting the natural resources. This source is important because looks at the cultural, legal, political, and geographical factors when considering the

past.
Innis, H. A. (1973). The Fur trade in Canada: An introduction to Canadian economic history. S.l.: University of Toronto Press.
This source explores the fur trade from a more historical perspective.

It is important to have an understanding of the events as a whole in Canada before delving into the different roles people played. It is also important to understand the impact of the fur trade on Canada’s natural resources and its impact on the economy because they directly correlate to the negative impact the fur trade had on the way of life of the Indigenous people. This source is important because it is an introduction to the events of the fur trade, and the way it came about in Canada. It explores the start of the Hudson Bay Company and the North West Company, and their ensuing tension and competition. It also explains the economic side of the fur trade, and how that in turn effected the way Canada is today as a country. From reading about the fur trade economically, it allows for a better view of how that impacted the Indigenous way of life. This source will offer a general overview of the events of the fur trade, although a weakness of it is that it is European centred. However, this source is relevant because it is important to consider all perspective when looking at history so a more whole view of the past is

presented.
Kirk, S. V. (1983). Many tender ties: Women in fur-trade society, 1670-1870. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press.
This source explores the role of Indigenous women in the fur trade by looking at their contributions as well as their role in society. When looking at any historical event it is important to consider all perspectives. When learning about the fur trade western culture focuses on the male European perspective. There are numerous accounts of their struggles and successes, but the integral roles Indigenous people played in the fur trade often are overlooked when learning about this event. Indigenous women were an integral, but often forgotten, aspect of the fur trade. Not only did they prevent the European explorers from succumbing to the harsh North American winters, they also acted as strategic economic partners. This source is important because it talks about specific roles of the Indigenous women like acting as homemakers by providing food and warm clothing, or acting as guides by helping the fur traders navigate the terrain. Without the help of Indigenous women, the fur trade would not have had the success that it did. This source is important because it offers the Indigenous women’s perspective, not just Indigenous men or white European traders. This source’s strength is that it will allow for a more whole perspective when talking about the role of the Indigenous people in the fur trade, and recognize the huge role Indigenous women played.
Gordon, I. T. (2011). People of the fur trade: From Native trappers to chief factors. Victoria: Heritage House.
This source gives detailed accounts of the various people involved in the fur trade. Specifically, it examines the lives of those who worked in the fur trade, including: Scotsman Colin Robertson, who used “glittering pomposity” to impress those he dealt with; Alexander Henry the Elder who was a trader and a merchant that left a detailed written account of his experiences; and Net-no-kwa, a woman of the Ottawa tribe, who was so highly regarded by the traders that they saluted her with gunfire every time she arrived there. This source is relevant because it looks at the fur trade from the perspective of different people, as well as the roles those people played within the trading. This source’s strength is that it talks about various people in the fur trade, and personalizes the event in the form of different characters. The fur trade becomes something more than just an event in history. From chief factors to servants, independent traders, Indigenous trappers and Metis: this source is relevant because it explores the undeniable impact the people of the fur trade had in shaping Canada.
Rude, D., & Deiter, C. (2004). From the fur trade to free trade: Forestry and First Nations women in Canada. Ottawa: Status of Women Canada.
This source gives a general overview of the way Indigenous peoples lives have changed throughout history. This report makes the connections between First Nations women, forestry and free trade with respect to various subject areas. Those subject areas are: gender and Aboriginal women, traditional roles, the fur trade, Aboriginal title and rights, and free trade and logging in First Nations communities. The main sections being used for this paper are the first three subject areas; however, the free trade and logging in First Nations communities partially discusses the economic side to events so it will be considered as well. This source is insightful when reading about the fur trade because it delves into gender roles of both Indigenous men and women, and the way the fur trade looked from the Indigenous perspective. Looking at history from different perspectives is important when trying to find a balanced view of the past. This source has interesting points on free trade within Indigenous communities, as well as the way trade impacted the way of life of the Indigenous people. The fur trade is an important section of this source, as it involves an economic aspect so there is definition to how the trading changed the way the Indigenous people lived. This source is relevant because it offers a deeper insight into the economic effect of the fur trade on both Canada and the Indigenous people. This source is important because it provides a deeper understanding to the events of the fur trade by including the change in economy, as well as the roles of Indigenous men and women traditionally and in the fur trade.