Indian Women In Fur Trade Society: Position And Influence

Position of Indian women in the fur trade industry of Western Canada

Discuss about the Indian Women in Fur Trade Society.

The essay discusses the thesis on “Women in Between” : Indian Women in Fur-Trade Society in Western Canada by Sylvia Van Krik”. The thesis mainly discusses the position of Indian women in the fur trade industry of Canada. This subject also brings in several important discussions of Indian and Canadian history. The women are called to be “in between” since they played a major role in establishing the trade relationship between, India and Canada. The essay analyses the thesis of Sylvia and puts a greater insight into this subject. The illustration of the Indian women’s position in the fur business or trade and the trade connection between Western Canada and India is the main subject of the essay. The subject of the thesis brings in several important points of discussion, which are further presented in the essay. The author’s thesis is an interesting one and delves deep to unfurl the history behind the establishment of the trade relation between India and Western Canada.

The author puts forward the argument or view that the Indian women served as the wives or mistress of the Canadian traders and played an influential role in sustaining the trade relation between them. The author also talks about how the Indian women prioritized the economic prosperity that was brought about by the trade relation between the two countries. The example or the proof to this above-said point can be cited from the thesis only (page no, 32) which says that the women were the main agents in maintaining the trade relation the two countries and the used their position for materialistic gain. The author also puts forward another important point of view, which tells that “miscegenation” was the basis or the fact of Canada’s fur trade. The example cited in (page no, 32) discusses the interrelationships or intermarriage between the Indian women and the Canadian traders. The relationships were purely based on business terms that made the women an unclaimed property of the traders. The Canadians used to enjoy the company of the women in absence of their wives, while they are far away from their homeland. The author in the thesis also brings in an important argument that tells that the women were in favor of becoming the mistress of the Canadian traders. The Indian women thought that becoming the mistress of a trader is very respectful and even went against their husband if they refused to permit them to have a relation with the traders.  The example cited in the thesis, (page no, 33) shows that Alexander Ross witnessed that the Chinook group of women showed a liking to have a relationship with a white. From the same page, another example comes forward in connection to the topic that can be discussed further. Once, Alexander Henry faced or confronted a finely dressed tribal Indian woman, who proposed him about staying with her. The author in her thesis also talks about the urge of the Indian women to break free from the shackles of their daily domestic life and the urge to gain some prominence and status. The thesis put forward the example, (page 34) of some women like, Lady Calpo and Thanadelthur who achieved some powers or authority. She played an influential role in gaining the favor of the whites in bringing about a radical change in the lives of the Chipewyan women. Lady Calpo also achieved a prominent position among the Canadians since she became a very skilled “news monger” and was highly treated by all the Canadian traders. However, as stated by the author of the article that the Indian women made use of themselves to gain power, the same happened in the case of Lady Calpo. Lady Calpo arranged a marriage between her daughter and the Governor, Simpson to gain position and authority. The author of this article puts forward one important point of view, which tells that the Indian women underwent a huge transformation in their lifestyle after becoming the wives of the traders. The example cited in the thesis (page no, 35) tells that story of Madam Lamallice who after becoming the wife or mistress of a brigade guide was provided with excess ration and also carried on with a personal or private business. The author also represents the fact that the Chipewyan women, gradually started to have a control over their Lords and in some cases made them do according to their wishes. These views and arguments of the author necessarily reflect the “in-between position” of the women. The author says about the thinking and the feelings of the Chipewyan women, after returning to their previous life. The women experienced a sense of liberation or freedom and continued to have a friendly or a good relation with the whites. The author also brings the important point of view that the fur trade helped the Indian women to sustain during the time of crisis. The example (page no, 36) of the three Cree females who were starving for a long period of time were helped by Governor Beale who provided them shelter and food. The three Cree females consisted of a mother with two of her daughters. The mother was horribly beaten by her husband and was driven out of the house since he could not afford to feed her. However, the woman was then nursed and was given a new life. The Indian women are said to be “in between” since it is they who wholly sustained the India and Canada trade relation and gained some favorable advantages for themselves. The author of the thesis also talks about the societal development of Indian women. It is due to the influence of the Canadians that the women got rid of the different societal norms, taboos, and domination. The example in the thesis (page no, 38) of the Ojibway tribes shows how the women were deprived of eating the best part of an animal. The women were even threatened for this and were told that eating the best parts of an animal would bring some dreadful consequences for them. However, the women being the connector of the fur trade ushered in some advantageous positions and facilities for them.

Influence of Indian women in the trade relationship between India and Western Canada

Yes, the thesis clearly represents the history of the fur trade and the position of the Indian women in this context. Sylvia provides a considerable amount of examples and proofs to establish her arguments and views. The author provides sufficient proofs or evidences and the proofs provided by the author are descriptive in nature and elaborately describes the situations and scenarios. The main points used by the author to prove her arguments are the typical examples of the Indian women in attaining their positions and powers and their influencing nature to attract the Canadian traders. The author uses primary sources to explain her point of view and to establish her arguments. The examples can be discussed further such as the book by Marshall Shalins serves as one of the primary sources of the thesis. This talks about the economic state or the principles of an affluent society. By delving into this matter the power struggle of the traders and the tribes are brought into focus, which provides a support to the thesis, by Sylvia. However, other primary source used by the authors is the book by Arthur Ray who writes on the fur trade and the challenging roles of the Indians in bringing about a new reform in the fur trade. However, these sources are authentic and provide a deeper insight into the subject matter. Use of many authentic historical documents has been done in the essay by the author, who serves as the primary sources of the essay and therefore it is quite evident that the author does not make any speculations. The book “The Fur Trade in Canada”, also serve as the primary source to this thesis which explains the hugely describes the economic history of Canada and the expansion of the fur trade in Hudson Bay The information serves greatly in formulating the thesis. Another source used by the author is the book, “Travels and Adventures”. This book provides the author with the necessary information about the history of the travel adventures in Canada for the expansion of the fur business. Another source includes the book, “The fur hunters of the far west”.

However, all these sources are authentic and the author does not provide a biased interpretation of the subject. The organization of the article, “erudite” is logical and the argument of the author is clear.  The author systematically analyzes the sources and then presents her views, ides, and interpretation of the subject. The author’s arguments and ideals are quite clear and convincing since she presents ample of examples from her reading of scholarly articles in the thesis. This type of article nurtures the knowledge of the academic students and helps them to develop and learn.

Reference:

Altamirano-Jiménez, I., 2013. Indigenous encounters with neoliberalism: Place, women, and the environment in Canada and Mexico. UBC Press.

Henry, A., 2009. Travels & Adventures: In Canada and the Indian Territories Between the Years 1760 and 1776. Applewood Books.

Innis, H.A., 1999. The fur trade in Canada: An introduction to Canadian economic history. University of Toronto Press.

Kardulias, Nick. “Negotiation and incorporation on the margins of world-systems: Examples from Cyprus and North America.” Journal of World-Systems Research 13.1 (2015): 55-82.

Pomfret, R., 2013. The economic development of Canada. Routledge.

Ray, A.J., 1998. Indians in the Fur Trade: Their Role as Trappers, Hunters, and Middlemen in the Lands Southwest of Hudson Bay, 1660-1870: with a New Introduction. University of Toronto Press.

Ray, A.J., 2016. Illustrated History of Canada’s Native People: I Have Lived Here Since the World Began. McGill-Queen’s Press-MQUP.

Ross, A., 1956. The fur hunters of the far west (Vol. 20). University of Oklahoma Press.

Sahlins, M.D., 1974. Stone age economics (Vol. 130). Transaction Publishers.

Southcott, C. and Walker, V., 2015. A portrait of the social economy in northern Canada. Northern Communities Working Together: The Social Economy of Canada’s North, p.21.

Stasiulis, D., 2013. Canada: gender and migration. The Encyclopedia of Global Human Migration.

Van Kirk, S., 1977. “Women in between”: Indian women in Fur Trade Society in Western Canada. Historical Papers/Communications historiques, 12(1), pp.30-46. (The article is retrieved from this source)