Fur Trade

Title: How the fur trade was a significant part of Canadian history, and the role of the native females during the fur-trade.

The fur trade was a significant part of Canadian history. With the founding of the Hudson's Bay and Northwest Company during the1670's, the fur trade managed growth and development all the way into Western Canada until 1870. The fur trade was unique, for it was the only industry that was based on an exchange of goods between two very different groups of people (namely, the Indians and the Europeans). Although most people think of the fur trade as being a male dominated industry, Indian women also played very important roles in the industry's development. However, the women's experiences differed in relation to the two companies. First of all, they helped foreign European traders by creating cultural liaisons with the Indian traders. Also, they were primarily responsible for maintaining the household. Finally, they were often considered for sexual purposes.

1. In the beginning of the fur trade, traders were dependent on the Indians for survival. At that time, it was thought that the Indian wives were the vogue during this period. (Kirk, 14) The traders started to marry Indian women because they could learn how to adapt to a native way of life and survival. As a result, it led to a widespread and complex pattern of intermarriage among fur-trade families. (Kirk, 14) A marriage between a native and a fur trader was a bond that helped to advance trade relations with a new tribe, which created a liaison the traders and her kin. (Kirk, 14) Most women would be their husbands' companion on voyages, and sometimes they would travel alone to sell the furs her husband had trapped. At the same time, Indian women who married fur traders tried to retain their domestic independences to the same degree as did women in aboriginal households. (Barber, 43) However, this kind of act confused most traders for they could not understand why some Indian women showed independence and wore the pants in the relationship.

A young clerk by the name of George Nelson mentioned that he was extremely annoyed over the behavior of a Cree woman who, he felt, completely dominated her husband. (Barber, 43) When a Native married a fur trader, they felt safer and had more freedom, which would not have been tolerated in some Native Societies. For example, Thanadelthur, an aboriginal woman, was able to work herself into a position of special status by acting as a guide, interpreter, and peace negotiator for HBC Governor Knight (1816-17). (Barber, 43) The Natives saw their woman as strong and powerful people and believed they were made for labor; and one of them can carry, or haul, as mush as two men can do (Kirk (Western), 18). Europeans on the other hand did not see their wives back in Europe as strong workers. Thus, they were very shocked to see how productive the Native women were. For example, David Thompson from the HBC once sent one of his strongest men to go help a Native woman who was stuck in the snow with her sled. To his surprise, the man needed all of his strength to move the load that the woman was carrying.

Furthermore, most women also had the roles of simply a housewife, mother, daughter or worker. (Kirk (Western), 8) While living within a fur-trade post, most Native women liked their situation. They felt as if their lifestyle was more laid back, but at the same time, they had to sacrifice a substantial amount of personal autonomy, thus being required to adjust to the traders' patriarchal views on the order of a home and family. After some of the husbands left back for Europe, because their contracts had expired, some Native women decided to return home. Once at home, they would receive great status in their aboriginal communities. Some of the other woman decided to stay in the trading posts with their family, while staying there they would receive a pension that had been arranged by their husbands in addition, many times the companies would make the woman remarry another trader. During these situations the women's wishes weren't respected.

The Native women were also responsible for raising the family. While being married to a trader, the wife was supposed to act as one of their wives from back home. Usually the wife/mother would wake up early in the morning and start the day such by making food or even preparing the furs for them to be sent back to Europe. Most women would also catch the food for the family, while their husbands were occupied with the trades. They were also responsible for raising their daughters and teaching them the general skills of a woman. The sons would also stay with their mothers at home. However, when they became