With the frequent access to new goods and materials, the Iroquois Indians soon abandoned their traditional spiritual relationship with the environment and animals and had to adapt to the new lifestyle they were thrust into. The depletion of animals and the halt of spiritual rituals contributed to a commercialization of the fur trade, increased warfare, and surge of revitalization to bring back the spirits they had previously left behind.

Primary Sources:

Carleton, Sir Guy. Condition of the Indian Trade in North America, 1767, as described in a letter to Sir WilHam Johnson. Brooklyn: Historical Printing Club, 1890.

• This source was an interesting firsthand account of the fur trade in the upper northeast. It provided in depth accounts of the government’s aspect of the fur trade and how it affected the relationship of the French, the Iroquois, and Canada. Although it was a bit biased from the Canadian side, it provided a different look into the fur trade.

Larpenteur, Charles. Forty years a fur trader on the upper Missouri: the personal narrative of Charles Larpenteur, 1833-1872. New York: Bison Books, 1898.

• This source is also a firsthand account of the fur trade, but through the eyes of a fur trader. This source allowed the reader to see the inside activities of the trader and what they were thinking. It also showed how the trade affected the people it involved.

"The Constitution of the Iroquois Nations." Available from http://www.indigenouspeople.net/iroqcon.htm. Internet; accessed 13 April 2010.

• Having the traditional Iroquois Constitution gave insight into what their traditional beliefs were. Knowing these beliefs the reader could assess how the Iroquois culture and relationship with the environment had changed over time. This source allowed for an in depth examination of the change over time.

Secondary Sources:

Brandão , José António. Your Fyre Shall Burn No More: Iroquois Policy toward New France and Its Native Allies to 1701. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1997.

• This book was biased and assessed the Iroquois culture from the complete opposite view of this paper. This opposite view allowed the reader to assess the information the author provided and the information on the other side, which was that European contact did change the Iroquois culture, and decide on their own which view had more evidence.

"Iroquois History." Available from http://tolatsga.org/iro.html. Internet; accessed 05 April 2010.

• This source was one of the best sources I found, and where I found the bulk of my information. It gave unbiased information that was easy to understand, yet still intriguing. This source helped form my overall thesis of the Iroquois changed relationship with their environment.

Krech III, Shepard. The Subartic Fur Trade: Native Social and Economic Adaptations. Vancouver : University of British Columbia Press, 1984.

• This book was not the best source. Although I did find some good information, the information was jumbled and confusing to read. If I had not read this book it would have been very hard to find useful information without concentrated research.

Lazzerini, Rickie. "The History of New York From early Native American cultures through WWII." KindredTrails.com Linking the World Together With Roots. Available from http://www.kindredtrails.com/New_York_History-1.html. Internet; accessed 05 April 2010.

• This website was also a great source. It gave great information on the native traditions of the Iroquois before, after, and during the fur trade. After reading this source the reader comes away with a better understanding of the Iroquois lifestyle.

Ray, Arthur J.. Indians in the Fur Trade: their role as trappers, hunters, and middlemen in the lands southwest of Hudson Bay. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1974.

• This book was much better than the first on this list. It was an easy read, with great explanations of the fur trade that were very easy to understand. It gave me a better understand of how the new tools and technologies affected the Iroquois relationship with their environment.

Ruvolo, David. "A Summary of Native American Religions ." Available from http://are.as.wvu.edu/ruvolo.htm. Internet; accessed 05 April 2010.

• This website was a great find for my research. The web page is all about the religions of the northeastern tribes, mostly the Iroquois. It described their traditional religion, and as the fur trade grew how their religion changed. It also provided information of how the Iroquois were able to establish such a power military and economic empire.

Vernon, Howard. "The Dutch, The Indians, and The Fur Trade in the Hudson Valley, 1609-1664." Available from http://www.hrmm.org/halfmoon/vernon.htm. Internet; accessed 05 April 2010.

• This source was useful in seeing additional views of the fur trade. Most of the documents I found were about the Iroquois and the French, this focused more on the Dutch’s involvement in the fur trade and how they contributed to the changing relationship of the Iroquois and their environment

 

 

Elisa Lensch