Why read Keepers of the Game?

Book cover of Keepers of the Game: Indian-Animal Relationships and the Fur Trade

Book description

Examines the effects of European contact and the fur trade on the relationship between Indians and animals in eastern Canada, from Lake Winnipeg to the Canadian Maritimes, focusing primarily on the Ojibwa, Cree, Montagnais-Naskapi, and Micmac tribes.

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Topics

The Ojibwe

Genres

Native American history

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Why read it?

1 author picked Keepers of the Game as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Andrea L. Smalley

Author

Keepers of the Game is a great book for provoking arguments. Martin asks why Native Americans willingly participated in the European fur trade, overhunting beavers and other wild furbearers to near-extinction in the process. His succinctly explained answer is a creative one that centers on the cooperative spiritual relationship between indigenous peoples and indigenous animals. His thesis has generated multiple scholarly counters—a clear sign of true originality. This book really made me think about the different kinds of relationships people have with animals. I think it’s far too easy to assume that we all see the same thing when looking…

From Andrea's list on early America’s beastly nature.