Persistence and Change in a Northern Saskatchewan Trapping Community
Date
1992-04
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
ORCID
Type
Degree Level
Masters
Abstract
This study was undertaken to discover the major factors at work in
cultural change and persistence among a community of trappers in northern
Saskatchewan. Using the theoretical construct, the mode of production, change
and persistence are examined in terms of the social relations of trapping and
other forms of bush production, with specific attention to the family.
The author did field research in Pinehouse Lake, Saskatchewan,
interviewing trappers and other members of the community and carrying out
participant observation during the summer of 1990. Significant among her
fmdings was that the major changes to the people's lifestyle were brought about
by external influences such as government and the larger economy. These are
felt in the community in the forms of mandatory attendance of children at
school and dwindling prices paid for furs and escalating costs of living. The
combined effect of these influences over the years is to radically change familyoriented
trapping to an exclusively-male economic aciviry, and finally to restrict
trapping to a smaller group of men, almost bringing an end to trapping
altogether.
Factors of persistence of trapping and the commitment of some
individuals to the bush activities regardless of economic hardships, are also
explored in this context. Good health, good food, freedom from the ills of the
larger society present in the village, and moral prescription are all found in the
testimony to the benefits of bush life provided by the informants.
Description
Keywords
Citation
Degree
Master of Arts (M.A.)
Department
Archaeology and Anthropology
Program
Archaeology and Anthropology