HIST 124 Lecture Notes - Smallpox
Document Summary
Many first nations absorbed only what they wanted to from the europeans- mostly without losing any of their own culture. Alexander mackenzie reaches bc first july 22 1793 but aboriginal people there had. European goods already- had traded with other groups. Tradition that first aboriginal group that met another group they got to be the middle person- if someone tried to go behind their backs they did so at their peril. For trade to occur they established metaphorical trade relationships with the people they wanted to trade with- ex) the huron"s called french brothers- way to show equality. In 18th c aboriginal group referred to europeans as fathers (still meaning we are equals)- from the french culture this meant they were ultimate authority figures but in aboriginal cultures authority did not work this way. Before trading the aboriginals would gather for gift giving- the french governor had to come and have a big feast.
