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Fur
Trade
"The fur trade era with the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara
was the motive for much of the early exploration of the
frontier. It was also a prime factor in the destruction
of their traditional cultures. The trade in the Upper
Missouri became highly competitive, and in their quest for profits,
corrupt traders resorted to the most brazen forms of deceit
and trickery. Most harmful was the unrestrained use of
whiskey in trading with the Indians, who were physically and
spiritually defenseless to alcohol. Little regard was
shown for the Indians' welfare by the fur companies, but the
damage could not have been nearly so devastating had it not
been for the cooperation of the Indian agents of the United
States government. The crime of traders, politicians,
and other exploiters during this era, was that not only did
they steal the Indians' land, they crushed their spirit and
destroyed their cultures. " (Dunn, 1963, p.235).
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Phone: 701-627-3503
Three Affiliated Tribes, 404 Frontage Road, New Town, North Dakota,
58763
Copyright ® 2004-2006 Mandan, Hidatsa & Arikara Nation.
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