- In what ways were Aboriginal women vital to the fur trade? (Horizons – Chapter 4 – page 134)?
| Women gathered the items, made food, medicine, clothing, and shelter. The men would trap the beavers and the women would clean it and turn it into a pelt. Men wanted to marry the women because they knew the land and they acted as a guide and it helped to make stronger ties to trade with the Europeans. The men that married the women were often polygamous and had a different wife for different places. |
Find a quote/image that confirms any of the above
| Source:
(author, title, year written/published, URL) |
http://www.northwestjournal.ca/XIII2.htm
Title: Women of the Fur Trade Date: 1774-1821 By A. Gottfred. |
| Quote/Image: | “In native cultures women usually set up camp, dressed furs, made leather, made cooked meals, gathered firewood, made moccasins, netted snowshoes, and many other things that were essential to daily life for both natives and fur traders, yet were unfamiliar tasks for Europeans.” |
| Interpretation: | The Women were a very essential part to the fur trade without them the men would have many other jobs than hunting and they would be as efficient if the work wasn’t slit up. |
Good job with the importance of women in the fur trade.
You have a good quote but remember that it’s supposed to be a primary source. If you look further down the article, you’ll find a primary quote that says something similar:
‘the women are deserving of some encouragement and indulgence from your Honors, they clean and put into a state of preservation all Beavr. and Otter skins brought by the Indians undried and in bad Condition. They prepare Line for Snow shoes and knit them also without which your Honors servants could not give efficient opposition to the Canadian traders they make Leather shoes for the men who are obliged to travel about in search of Indians and furs and are usefull in a variety of other instances, in short they are Virtually your Honors Servants.’ [13]
How might this be shown in your film idea?