"This Countries Ladies": Gender Negotiations at the Northwest Company, Grand Portage

Authors

Andrew E. LaBounty

Date of this Version

2009

Document Type

Article

Comments

Published in Nebraska Anthropologist Vol. 24 (2009). Copyright © Andrew E. LaBounty; published by The University of Nebraska-Lincoln AnthroGroup.

Abstract

French interactions with Indians during the fur trade were characterized by intermarriage and cultural assimilation. Later, when Canadian traders took over, women were notably present at the Northwest Company s depot at Grand Portage, and participated in its affairs. Although the seasonal workings of Canadian fur trade depots are well-established, gender roles have been typically overlooked in the day-to-day recount of fur trade societies. This paper will thus investigate the aspect of gender at fur trade posts, and particularly at Grand Portage, as a study in cross-cultural negotiations for the fulfillment of gender roles.