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Native women role in fur trade
Native women role in fur trade
Excursions between the fur trade and the native americans
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The fur trade was proved to be significant in Canadian history because it shaped Canadian economy and changed the lives of native people. Moreover, fur trade also influenced the relations of natives with European traders. In the earliest years, the role of women was not evident, only men were considered as main participants. However, when fur trade was shifted to native villages, at that time crucial role of women was accounted. Undoubtedly, women played an important role in fur trade industry. Because of the significant contribution of women Without women fur trade was nearly impossible. Because they did a plenty of unpaid work to support their men in the fur trade. Beside doing household chores and raising children, they dedicate their more time to supply essential tools and resources to the fur trade industry. They also helped in navigation and translation. Apart from this, voyageurs worked hard for eighteen hours a day paddling the loaded canoes through the fast waterways. This was the crucial reason for Europeans to make an alliance with natives because they knew and controlled the transportation routes and waterways. Fur trade built a great relationship between natives and Europeans. Moreover, it also created alliances that were mutually beneficial. In winter, Europeans were unable to bring enough food for them. So they exchanged food from …show more content…
natives and also demanded manufacturing supplies from natives. “Women also exerted control over the trade as marriage partners for traders.” It is clearly seen from the given statement that Exchange of goods and services further resulted in marriages between Europeans and natives. Which resulted in the better interconnection between them, more importantly, they became more socialized and they fully accepted the new rules of new society, which is the evidence of cultural and religious establishment of the Metis and European traders. The improvement of the North American fur exchange can be credited to three interrelated economic factor.
First, an immense supply of fur. Second, an indigenous and profoundly energetic furs gathering framework that exclusive the Native people could give through their enthusiasm to European merchandise. Third, the continuous demand for the fur exchange by Europeans through its growing utilization and fare exchange. Aboriginal women had skills of making snow shoes, canoes, fur clothes, hats. So they traded these goods to Europeans and they got guns, metal pots, knives etc. in return, which helped them in the
warfare. Fur trade enhances their skills and techniques. For instance, they became more skilled in trapping beavers, buffaloes. Additionally, the fur trade had a major impact on Beaver extinction. Beaver’s skin was the main source for the raw material of the fashion accessories like hats, clothes. The natives were experienced in the trapping so they hunted and killed the beavers for the trade purposes. “By the 1670 it was plain that alcohol had become a principal commodity in the fur trade.” Fur trade created a problem when they started trading alcohol. It became the main item of the trade among the two parties. Church protested for this trade item. “The efforts of French officials to control the fur trade inadvertently gave the king of England an excuse to award a charter to the “Governor and company of Adventurers of England Trading into Hudson Bay,” which gradually came to known as the Hudson Bay Company.” Hudson Bay company was started on May 2,1670, and was founded by Henry Hudson. Natives exchanged furs to these areas to deal for fabricated merchandise, for example, blades, pots, needles. By the late eighteenth century, rivalry constrained Hudson Bay Company to venture into the inside. “A string of posts grew up along the great river networks of the west foreshadowing the modern cities that would succeed them: Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton.”
Jennifer S.H. Brown, W.J. Eccles and Donald P. Heldman, The Fur Trade Revisited, Michigan State University Press, 1994.
Métis were important because they were skilled buffalo hunters so they could sell a lot of buffalo hides (“Métis and the Fur Trade” slide 4). “Trading companies would use the Métis for their knowledge of the fur trade or use them as employees (slide 2). They were also used for voyagers, hunters, employees, traders, and interpreters (slide 3). Woman played a role by trading while the husbands went out and got more fur (slide 2). Many woman would also make moccasins to sell or trade with the fur from rabbits, squirrels, and other smaller animals that they would hunt (Rahsai slide 4). If they didn't sell any items they would make furniture and clothes out of them (“The Métis” para
The history of Canada was flooded with many influential and incredible events, particularly during World War 1 and World War 2. During the 20th century, Canada got more involved in worldwide events. It was a very important period for Canada; it was where they gained their independence and progressed as a country. After this century, Canada was considered an important and powerful country.
Fur trading started between the Europeans along with the Aboriginals when the most valuable beaver pelts were substituted for metal and clothing goods such as iron knives and axis, copper kettles, blankets and trinkets. The beaver pelts were well desired by the Europeans for the reason that using this fur for headgear provided an elegant way to keep dry. However these pelts were for fashion, as men and women could be instantly noted within the social hierarchy by according to their beaver hats. It was so valuable that the sand on the floor was filtered to save every hair that had fallen off. For the Europeans, captivating advantages of the rich furs from the Indians in the New World was a major factor in generating handsome profits, and there is no other pelt exchanging business enterprise like the Hudson's Bay Company.
The post-war time was a period where major changes were occurring. After being involved in two international conflicts, Canada was ready to reestablish their economy. During this time, Canada had started working on ways to become stronger and reputable. It is evident that Canada had matured through the post-war era. Canada’s economic progress left a positive impact on the growth of the country as consumerism became popular, and economic ties with America became stronger. Moreover, the removal of racial and ethical barriers contributed to Canadian social affairs such as the huge wave of immigration and the baby boom. The Canadian government also had become more aware and involved in issues impacting Canadian citizens. Canada as a whole started identifying itself as an independent nation and participating in events that brought a positive reputation amongst them. These economical, social, and legal changes helped Canada mature into the country it is today.
Aboriginal women had occupied an essential position in the fur trade of the North American region from its birth during the 17th and 18th centuries. Even though this is true, the role of women, especially those of the Native American society, has been ignored a great deal in the entire history of fur trade. Contrary to the belief that the whole fur trade activity was only male-dominated, it very much depended upon Native women and their participation and labor in order to ensure survival as well as economic success. This paper will attempt to illuminate how Native women played the role as important producers when it comes to fur trade of the American Plains and, of course, the Canadian region. This paper will also deal with the two important company's namely the North West and Hudson's Bay Company and tell how each functioned during the time of fur trade. The term “fur traders” is the term often used to described anyone who was interested in the traffic of furs. The traditional picture has been that of a male in buckskin shirt and a raccoon cap, dispensing alcohol and trinkets to gullible savages, in turn for the quality furs worth 10 times their value.
One of the most significant changes was economic development. The war had changed Canada’s economy greatly both during and after the war. After the war, Canada transitioned from a war based production economy, to a peacetime supply and demand economy. New jobs were created in different sectors of the economy. As R.B Bennett said in a speech “By any economic test you may employ, Canada is more prosperous today than it was two years ago...” (Bennett, Richard Bedford, 1870-1947) Canada’s manufacturing industry had grown which allowed it to become a leader in industries such as automotive manufacturing and chemical processing. Besides manufacturing, many other sectors of the economy gained success. For example, the production of newsprint became Canada’s largest industry after agriculture. Moreover, the Prairie Provinces enjoyed huge success with wheat. New mining discovers were also made in the 1920’s. By 1929, Canada was producing almost 80 percent of the world’s supply of nickel. Furthermore, the 1947 discovery of oil in Alberta made Canada a petroleum superpower. The growth of manufacturing changed the global perspective on Canada and gave Canadians a significant
It caused conflict between tribes as they fought over areas of land that would provide them with the most furs (Effects of the Fur Trade). The fighting over land eventually lead to the death of numerous Native Americans. The only reason conflict arose was from European greed. Furs were the only thing they began to care about Natives became dependent on the Europeans for more than just iron tools and cooking utensils, they also began trade for firearms and ammunition. Also, as a result of devoting time to getting furs, they had to trade for European food to sustain themselves through the winter (Effects of the Fur Trade). Not only had the Europeans drastically affected the ecosystem in the hunting of the furs, they also started to effect the Native American way of life. This changed the habits of some tribes from regular nomadic movements to the claiming of territories to further their stake in the ever growing fur trade. After trading for some items became less useful, Europeans started to trade alcohol which would have lasting consequences present even in today’s Indigenous people (Effects of the Fur
Chapter 5 presents the western area and how the Colorado Fur Trade really began in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado, with Taos and Santa Fe being the trade centers. It all began with the “coarse fur” trade (deer, antelope and elk) with northern New Mexico by the Spanish beginning in the mid-1600s and lasting well into the 1850s, later expanding into the “fine fur” trade (beaver and muskrat) in the 1800s. From here, it’s hard to follow exactly how the trade was conducted as until the early 1800s, most trades outside of Santa Fe, Chihuahua city, or other specified locations in the states were forbidden, leaving many jailed in Mexico for the attempt. The Spanish would continue trading, as far north as Wyoming until 1821 when Mexico would
The men did the hunting, navigating, and most other dangerous or hard tasks. The women; however, did not have it easy. Women played very important roles taking care of children and cooking under very difficult conditions. When their husbands would become sick or die, women would take over the wagon entirely. Pregnant women, on ...
Each different frontier had a different affect on people and the way they lived life. The trading frontier created and established good and bad relationships with the natives. The Norsemen, Vespuccius, Verraconi, Hudson, and John Smith all trafficked furs and other goods to Native Americans. They trafficked goods all the way from Maine to Georgia, which then led to the opening of river courses to trade farther in the continent. After getting involved in the trading, native power was being undermined by making them dependent on the whites "Turner p.25".
“Existing trade networks and trading experiences provided a ready-made avenue for the incorporation of European traders and their item.”, this was from chapter 3, All Stuff of Life, in New World For All, written by Colin G Calloway. This statement means that before European trade network had dramatically changed the Native Americans’ life, they already had a trading system. It was a way to welcome new alliances, making and renewing friendships or relationship. Even though they had a system, the European trade and their material goods had a positive impact on their lives because it was the earliest assimilation in America.
Women had an immense impact on the years of fur trading. Especially Native or Mixed Blood women because these are the ones that most men in the fur trade married. Benefits came along with marrying these women; fur traders had the inside scoop and strong ties with her Native family. The improvement of relationships was built with marriage but also information about their culture and language. Women coming from a strong culture like Natives bring along skills to improve and help the fur traders. Like how the women could set up camp off of the settlement, prepare the furs to be traded, make leather to make more of a profit, cook meals with the surrounding goods that not necessarily a white wife could make. First Nations women were built to work;
The fur trade was one of the most defined time periods in Canadian history due to its economic and socioeconomic change amongst the European-Canadian settlers and the Aboriginal peoples. While it tends to be overlooked, the success of the fur trade can largely be credited to the role that women played. This paper will focus on the impact of the involvement of women in the fur trade. While the main role of women was trading and bartering goods, this paper will also explore how traditions, such as marriage, were strongly affected by women during the fur trade. This paper will also be comparing how the socioeconomic relations of the fur trade were impacted by the marriages of Indigenous women to European men and how in the eyes of the fur trade,
Bingham’s emblematic image touches upon settlement, trade, the Missouri and Mississippi rivers, and the issue of race. The painting can be read from left to right, adding a horizontal linear aspect. From an ominous animal chained to the prow of the flat boat, to the multiracial boy reclined on a box of some sort, to a hunchbacked elderly man propped on the stern, the viewer’s eye is able to journey in a straight line through each major element presented in the artwork, showing the progression from beast to civilization. The old man having a grim expression carries the burden of having to balance the responsibility of maintaining his business while dealing with the integration of various peoples in his community. The main purpose of this image is to reflect the commonality of interracial marriages, specifically between Native American women and the white settlers, during the time of the fur trade (Bryant). The tone