The majority of workers in the Hudsons Bay Company, up until the mid-19th
century, originated in the Orkney Islands, off the north coast of Scotland.
Historians have characterized these workers as an homogenous groupthrifty,
sober, suited to work in cold weather and in the boats. Most worked for the
Company for several years, saved their money and returned to their home islands.
My research into the lives and work of the Orkneymen of the Saskatchewan
district, however, has revealed that a significant portion of these men remained in
the North West. They adapted well to the environment of Ruperts Land, acquired
useful skills including learning aboriginal languages, and, above all, many
married native women and raised families, ultimately putting down roots in
western Canada. My thesis focuses on this subset of men and the contribution
they made to life in the early Canadian West.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:AEU.10048/1030 |
| Date | 06 1900 |
| Creators | Purdey, Cheryl Ann |
| Contributors | Gerahrd Ens, History, Ken Munro, History, Pat McCormack, Native Studies |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 18367264 bytes, application/pdf |
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