Marriage à la façon du pays facts for kids
Marriage à la façon du pays (pronounced "ah lah fah-sohn doo pay-ee") means "according to the custom of the country." It describes a type of marriage between European fur traders and Indigenous or Métis women in the early days of the North American fur trade. These marriages were like common-law unions, following local Indigenous customs rather than European church rules.
Historians like Sylvia Van Kirk say these marriages were very important. They helped create a unique society during the fur trade. This practice started in the 1600s and continued until the late 1800s. Over time, things changed due to new European settlers, Catholic beliefs, and more "mixed-heritage" daughters who also became fur trade wives. The marriage ceremonies often blended European and Indigenous traditions, but mostly followed Indigenous ways.
At first, the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) didn't allow women at their trading posts. But by 1739, they changed their minds. Marriages between European traders and Indigenous women became common. These unions were important for both social reasons and business. They helped build strong trade relationships between Europeans and Indigenous peoples. This was similar to how Indigenous tribes used marriage to form alliances among themselves.
Indigenous women played many key roles in the Canadian fur trade. They helped fur traders survive the harsh North American winters. Europeans didn't know much about the plants, animals, or seasons. So, they relied heavily on Indigenous people for survival. Indigenous women often acted as a bridge between the two cultures.
Marrying fur traders was also a way for Indigenous women to secure economic resources. These marriages were expected to strengthen trade between the woman's family and the trader. They also provided mutual help when needed. The woman's family hoped the trader would be more generous after the marriage. These unions also led to the creation of the Métis people. The Métis are often called the "children of the fur trade." For fur traders, Indigenous women offered companionship and helped with daily life. They also played an economic role by making pemmican (a survival food) and warm winter clothes.
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Indigenous Women Before European Contact
Before Europeans arrived, women held important positions in Indigenous societies. Many First Nations groups were matrilineal. This means that women had a lot of political power. They often controlled tribal politics and owned most of the property. The home belonged to the woman, as did the food and resources gathered. So, women managed the household's economy.
Men respected women and often asked for their opinions. There was a good balance between men and women. Men valued women for their spiritual and mental strength. Women valued men for their physical strength. European men who came to Canada were surprised by how independent Indigenous women were.
One early trader, James Strange, noticed that women often directed all the business deals. He said he had to pay three times more when women were present. Another newcomer, James Swan, wrote that women could speak freely and even tell men what to do. European men were not used to women being so direct and in control. They learned that Indigenous women were seen as wise, and their opinions mattered a lot.
The Fur Trade Begins
The North American fur trade started in the 1600s. Europeans and Indigenous people met at the Saint Lawrence River to trade goods. Europeans wanted furs, especially beaver pelts, for fancy hats and clothing in Europe. Indigenous people knew the best ways to trap animals. So, they were valuable partners for the Europeans.
European traders needed Indigenous help to survive the Canadian landscape and climate. In return, Indigenous people wanted European goods they didn't have. These included metal pots, tools, and utensils. As trade grew, the Ojibwe people became middlemen. They brought goods to the Canadian Prairies to trade with the Cree and Assiniboine. Then they brought furs back to the Europeans. Later, the Cree and Assiniboine also became middlemen.
As more Indigenous people joined the trade, personal relationships became very important. Building good relationships helped secure trade access and loyalty. Some historians believe these strong personal bonds were key to the fur trade's success. For example, Brenda Macdougall says Indigenous people didn't just trade for money. Personal connections were vital.
Indigenous Women's Role in the Fur Trade Economy
Indigenous women also built important connections with traders. Their work produced many goods that became crucial for traders. These included wild rice, maple sugar, and woven mats. Women's food production became even more important when trading moved to Indigenous villages. Traders relied on the food supplied by Indigenous women to survive. For example, traders living in Ojibwe villages ate a lot of rice.
Women also took part in trading goods that both Indigenous men and women made. Ojibwe women helped by making canoes used for trading. Trading canoes allowed Indigenous women to get many goods for themselves. Since many Indigenous women also prepared the furs that men brought back, they had a lot of say in trading the final product. This teamwork meant the fur trade involved many connections between Indigenous men, Indigenous women, and European traders. It shows that Indigenous women had power and control from the start of the fur trade.
The different relationships between Indigenous people and traders show how they depended on each other. Both Europeans and Indigenous people needed each other to keep the fur trade going. Historians have different ideas about whether these relationships were always good for everyone. Some believe Indigenous women's contributions were not fully recognized. Others, like Sylvia Van Kirk, think women gained advantages through marriage. It's clear that Indigenous women were active participants in fur trade society.
Home Life for Indigenous Women and Traders
In fur-trade society, there were many more men than women. Only men were usually allowed to travel from Europe to North America. The frontier was not seen as safe for "civilized" European women. This meant the available women were Indigenous. Fur traders were away from home for years. They often wanted a life that felt more like home.
Marriage à la façon du pays meant European fur traders married Indigenous women. These marriages followed Indigenous customs more than European ones. Catholic priests usually didn't approve of such unions. But both the fur traders and Indigenous families took these marriages seriously. European men often paid a "bride price" to the woman's family. This might be a horse, guns, or blankets.
At first, the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) told their men not to marry Indigenous women. But some men ignored these rules. Soon, the HBC realized that marriage ties to First Nations people had benefits. The North West Company (NWC) was more open. They encouraged their officers to marry Indigenous women.
For fur traders away from home, having a wife made life easier. Having children made it even better. A fur trader with a wife to care for the house, cook meals, and mend clothes was better off than a trader living alone. While there were more mouths to feed, living with a family was healthier than living in isolation. Life was more bearable with someone to share it with.
Indigenous women who married fur traders often had more children than those who married within their own tribes. Traditionally, Indigenous women might have a child every three to four years. This was partly because they breastfed longer. An Indigenous woman living with her tribe might have had about four children between ages 18 and 30. However, a woman married to a fur trader might have had seven or more children by age 30. This could be due to her husband's expectations and a different diet. Many tribes moved annually, especially Plains tribes. Living a settled life versus a migratory life also affected the number of children. Traditionally, women often shared childcare. But an Indigenous woman married to a fur trader might have raised her children mostly on her own.
When a fur trader married an Indigenous woman, he gained help with domestic tasks. In return, her family gained access to trading posts and European goods. It was a helpful relationship for both sides. The woman benefited economically by getting first access to tools, glass beads, sewing needles, and knives. European tools made work easier. For example, copper pots lasted longer and were lighter than clay ones. A benefit for the fur trader was that his wife's family would reliably return to trade with him. He also had a companion to share work and free time with. These marriages helped the fur trade grow.
Indigenous Women's Economic Contributions
Indigenous women played a huge role in the Canadian Fur Trade. They supported the men who were trading. Many women were also trappers and traders themselves. Other markets grew during the fur trade years. One important market was for pemmican. Indigenous and Métis women made and traded pemmican with Europeans. Without pemmican, winters in the Northwest could be deadly. Having an Indigenous wife was a good way to get enough pemmican.
Indigenous wives also became language interpreters. They were cultural guides between their fur trader husbands and their own families or tribes. When European men first arrived, they didn't know how to do many tasks needed for survival. Their Indigenous wives taught them. This included making snowshoes, canoes, clothing, and especially moccasins. Women knew how to prepare and cook local foods. They also preserved foods like pemmican for winter. Without their Indigenous wives' knowledge, these fur traders would not have survived the winters.
Besides connecting cultures, women were also smart businesswomen. They produced winter food and clothing. Indigenous mothers taught their daughters beading and other important cultural arts. Their descendants became known as "the flower beadwork people." The detailed beadwork designs were an important source of income for Indigenous and Métis women. This was especially true when their fur trader husbands were away for months.
Why These Marriages Happened
From the European side, the main reason for a marriage à la façon du pays was to give the European husband an advantage in the fur trade. Native women had valuable skills like cooking, sewing, and making moccasins and snowshoes. But their most attractive feature was the promise of economic success. A Native wife could act as a cultural go-between for her people and the European traders.
These marriages were not meant to make Indigenous women become European. Instead, they created a middle ground where goods could be exchanged peacefully. Indigenous women often translated for traders and trappers. They also helped negotiate deals. Being part of his wife's Native community guaranteed the European husband steady access to furs.
The marriages followed the traditions of the woman's group. They were less formal than European marriages. They were often approved by the bride's family after a "bride-price" was exchanged. Unlike European marriages performed by priests, these unions were not always seen as permanent. Both sides understood they could leave the marriage if they were unhappy. Some European men already had wives in their home countries. They would later leave their North American wives. In Native communities, exchanging women was common among allies. Native leaders expected European traders to return the favor by giving them access to trading posts and supplies. Bruce M. White also noted that Native people valued giving and receiving gifts and respect. This helped the fur trade run smoothly.
For a Native woman, marrying à la façon du pays could be very helpful. According to Susan Sleeper-Smith, these relationships were a way of adapting to new cultures and economies. Sleeper-Smith also says that being married to a European fur trader increased the power of his Indigenous wife and her community. Native women built networks through family ties and religion (especially Catholicism). This made trade easier. It also allowed these women to gain important positions and power. Some women became so powerful that other traders opposed their control over trading. Some, like Magdalaine Marcot la Framboise, became independent fur traders.
The Decline of These Marriages
Marriages between fur traders and Indigenous women started to decline after the early 1800s. These marriages became less important for trade and politics. As trade became more established, marriage alliances were less needed. More European and Métis women arrived in Western Canada and the United States. This gave European traders more choices for wives. Both Métis and European wives were seen as more suitable partners. This was due to growing prejudice against Indigenous people and other social reasons. Bringing more Native women into the forts also cost the trading companies more money.
As more European traders and settlers came West, marriage customs became more like those in Europe. Growing numbers of missionaries also spoke out against marriages following "Indian rules."
In general, long contact with European men and settlers caused some bad feelings among Indigenous women and their communities. This discouraged new partnerships. Historian Sylvia Van Kirk also argued that conditions for Native women living with European men got worse over time. Women were more exposed to diseases. Having more children closer together also put a strain on their health. Cultural differences, especially about who raised the children, also caused problems. Some Indigenous groups even stopped certain traders from marrying their women. They sometimes banned all relationships with European traders. The North West Company eventually banned intermarriage for its employees in 1806. However, marriage to Métis women was still allowed. Although they continued to happen, marriages à la façon du pays greatly decreased in the following decades.
When European women started arriving in Western Canada, many fur traders left their Native wives for the "preferred" Europeans. Many fur traders left these marriages because they didn't see them as legally binding. When fur traders retired, some stayed in North America. But others returned to Europe for good. Those returning home often left their Native wives and children behind. Sometimes, when an older trader retired, a younger trader would take his place and also take on the partnership with the abandoned woman. The NWC often received requests for help from abandoned or widowed wives. The woman and her children usually returned to her original family. The forts saw more women seeking help because their husbands had left them. This meant many children were raised with the help of their mother's families.
However, there are also many stories of marriages that lasted for years. Some husbands wrote about their sadness after their beloved wives died. Many fur traders thought their Indigenous wives were excellent mothers and partners.
Lasting Impact
The Métis communities that grew in places like the Red River Colony and the Great Lakes region came from the connections between Indigenous women and French men. These connections happened as they created fur trading posts across the West. Métis communities were unique because they strongly connected to both French Catholic ways and the Native lives the women were used to. The Indigenous women who became mothers of the Métis community were mainly from the Cree and Ojibwe tribes. Métis communities became one of the most important links between Indigenous peoples and Europeans. Macdougall noted that the Métis people were very important to how the fur trade was run.
Marriage for Métis people, especially young Métis men, became difficult. This was because of their strong ties to both Native traditions and French customs. This often made their marriages seem unofficial. Métis families started marrying within their own kin, especially around the Great Lakes. This intermarriage led to a very distinct Métis culture in the Great Lakes and Western Canada. Unlike many minority groups, the Métis people actively chose to be different. This unique identity led to several conflicts between the Métis, European settlers, and the Canadian government in the 1800s. One example is the Red River Rebellion. The government of Alberta officially defines Métis people as those who don't fit the social and legal definitions of Native or European, but are the children of both.
