Long-Term Inuit-European and -Euroamerican lntersocietal Interaction in the Central Canadian ...

130 Pages·2001·6.81 MB·English

Northern Periphery: Long-Term Inuit-European and
-Euroamerican lntersocietal Interaction in the Central
Canadian Arctic
Donald S. Johnson
Department of Anthropology, McGill University, Montreal.
May, 1999
A thesis subrnitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research in partial
fulfilhent of the requirements of the degree of Master of Arts.
Copyright O Donald S. Johnson, 1 999
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ABSTRACT
-
This study examines long-term lnuit European and -Euroamerican
intersocietal interaction in the central Canadian Arctic. This geographical area
encompasses the traditional ranges of the contiguous Copper, Netsilik and
lgl ulik lnuit societies. Specifically . the study analyzes and discusses changes in
intra- and intergroup material trade networks and social relations resulting from
indirect and direct contact with the developing capitalist world-system. Through
the application of world-system theory and methodology, it is shown that indirect
contact in the form of the acquisition of material trade items was a gradual.
though constant. process that had a considerable impact on the cultural
development of these societies. 60th indirect and direct contact were greatly
accelerated during the 19th century, increasing the rate of cultural change. and,
by the early 20th century. ultimately culminating in the articulation of the
Copper. Netsilik and lglulik lnuit societies within the modern capitalist world-
system.
RESUME
Cette étude fait l'analyse de l'interaction à long terme entre les sociétés
Inuit-Européene et -Euroaméricaine dans la région centrale de l'Arctique
Canadienne. Cette région géographique est comprise d'une diversité
traditionelle de sociétés lnuit et contiquës de Copper, Netsilik et Iglulik. En
particular, I'etude examine et discute les changements dans les réseaux de
commerce rnatérial et les relations sociales entre les groups, et à l'intérieur de
ii
ces derniers, resultant de contacts indirects et directs avec le système mondial
qui était dévéloppant et capitaliste. A cause de l'application de la théorie et la
méthodologie du système mondial, il sera démontré que le contact indirect
dans la forme de l'acquisition des articles de commerce matérial était un
processus graduel, tout de même constant, qui a eu un impact considérable sur
le dévéloppement cultural de ces sociétés. Les contacts indirects et directs, les
deux, étaient beaucoup accélérés pendant le 1S a siècle, précipitant le
changement culturel, et culminant finalement dans l'articulation des sociétés
Inuit de Copper, Netsilik et lglulik dans le système mondial qui était capitaliste
et moderne au debut du 2 W siècle.
iii
I am deeply grateful ta the members of rny academic committee, Dr.
James M. Savelle, Dr. George W. Wenzel and Dr. Michael S. Bisson for their
tirne, awnsel and support. In paiüailar. I owe a deep debt of gratitude to my
advisor and mentor, Dr. James Savelle, for his astute assistance in al1 aspects
of my academic life. Dr. Savelle's knowledge, enthusiastic direction and stellar
supervision have been integral to my understanding of contact and intersocietai
interaction and to the preparation of mis thesis. His kindness, effort and
friendship eased my retum to acaderne after an absence of many years, and
made the experience not only hghly enjoyable, but profoundly satisfying.
Dr. George Wenzel has k e na mentor and friend whose knowledge of
the Arctic and lnuit societies has been of inestimable importance. I profited
enorrnously from Dr. Wenzel's '%reat Books of the North" seminar and frorn
many stimulating conversations, especially those which drew on his expertise of
lnuit sharing and kinship systems.
I also wish to thank Dr. Michael Bisson, who took time frorn a very busy
schedule to serve on my committee, and whose comments have been highly
valu&. Dr. Bruce O. Trigger's seminar on archaeological theory, writings and
many perceptive comments were extremely helpful and often inspirational. I am
also grateful to Dr. Toby Morantz for ber insightful comments. Although I have
yet to make his acquaintance, Dr. Trevor Max Friesen played a salient role in
the writing of this thesis. His Periphery as Centre: Long-term Patterns of
lnterwcietal Interaction se- as my personal lanchor to windward" in
understanding world-system theory and it's application to precapitalist societies.
Thanks are also due to Professor lmmanuel Wallerstein, Fernand
Braudel Center, Binghamton University, New York and Dr. Aron L. Crowell,
Arctic Studies Center, Smithsonian Institution. Anchorage, Alaska for their
cogent comments and encouragement- I was fortunate, too, in receiving
iv
vduable insights and several critical observations from my fellow graduate
student and dose friend, Yongwook-Luc Yoo, whose many kindnesses are too
numerous to nurnber.
f would like to thank Sue Rundle of Manchester, Vermont for her
,
translating skills, John Conte and Tim Morton of Advanced Imaging,
Manchester, Vermont, for their assistance in the preparation of maps, and
Richard Nantel of Montreal for his mathematical expertise. Rose Marie Stano,
Administrative Assistant, and the staff of the Department of Anthropology, MoOill
University. as well as the staff of the Mciennan Library, McGill University, also
assisted me on innumerable occasions.
I also wish to pay tribute to several individuals who have been steadfast
in their support over the years: Mr. Morris Buske, Oak Park, Illiinois, Dr. Chartes
Houston, M.D., kindred idealist", Burlington, Vermont, rny mother, Gloria
Johnson of Chicago, Illinois and my godmother, Anita Stewart, of Prospect
Heights, Illinois.
My return to University, and the writing of this thesis, could not have been
accomplished without the love, constant encouragement and strong support of
my wife Alanna (also a supeib editor), daughter Guinevere, and son Gunnar.
This thesis is dedicated to the memury of my bdoved father,
Car! Gunnar Johnson, 1921- 1997.
"Fottitudine V/ncimusU
Table of Contents
Abstract. .......................................................................................................... ii
...............A.c..k.n.o..w..le.d..g.e..m..e.n.t.s. . iv
List of Figures. ........ .. .............. . .................................................................. vii
List of Tables. ............................. ... ............................................................... viii
1 . Introduction ........ ..... ................................................................................ 1
Theoretid Background. ......... ........... . ..................................... 5
Theoretical Framework. ................................................................ 6
Methodology and Predictions. .............................................................. 10
Classification Systern/Chronology for the Process
.........................................................
of Incorporation in this Study 14
Culture History, Process of Incorporation,
and Predictions. ........... ... . .................................................... 15
.-..
Incidental Zone ....................... ............. . . ...................... 15
......................................................
Early Contact Periphery 16
Late Contact Periphery. ................. .. ...........................*.... 17
.............................................................
Marginal Periphery 19
Dependent Periphery. ......................................................... 20
Incidental Zone .D iscussion. ....................... ... ................... 21
Early Contact Periphery Discussion. ............... ... ......................... 26
O
Late Contact Periphery Discussion. ...... .......... . ............................ 31
Whaling: The PeriodO 1820 1880. ............................................... 35
Inuit - Expedition Cont act. ...œ. ............... .... ................................. 40
Expeditions: The Period 1820 1839. ................ ... ...................... 46
-
Expeditions: Rie Period 18 45 O 1860. ......................................... 64
..........................................
mitions:T he Period 1860 1880 76
O
Marginal Periphery .D iscussion. ............... ... ............................... 84
.....................................................................
Dependent Periphery 91
Discussion and Condusion. ................................................................ 92
................................................................................
Incidentai Zone 92
Earfy Contact Periphery. ............................................................... 94
................................................................
Late Contact Periphery 97
.........................................................................
Marginai Periphery 101
....................................................................................
Condusion.-. 104
........................................................................................
Referenœs Cited 1O 7
List of Figures
Figure 1: Map of the central Canadian Arctic
(After base màp McGhee 1984:370). ............... ....
Figure 2: Map of the central Canadian Arctic,
approximate aboriginal ranges of the
Copper, Netsilik. and lglulik Inuit
(From Damas 1 969) ...............................................-
Figure 3: Schematic representation of overiapping
hunter-gatherer world-systems
(From Friesen 19 95:55).. ........................... .. ........
Figure 4: Schematic cornparison of four classification
...........................
systems (After Friesen 19 9537)
Figure 5: Map of the central Canadian Arctic, probable
................................
trade routes, Incidental Zone
Figure 6: Eskimo Trade Routes, Arctic Coast, Canada
(From Stefansson 1914 ) .......................................
Figure 7: Map of the central Canadian Arctic,
probable changes, Early Contact Periphery. .....
Figure 8: Map of the central Canadian Arctic,
.....
probable changes, Late Contact Periphery..
Figure 9: Map of the central Canadian Arctic,
Initial Inuit-expedition contact points.
Late Contact Penp hery. .......... .. ... .... ..............
Figure 10: Initial Inuit-expedition contact points,
Late Contact Periphery. .........................................
Figure 11 : Hudson's Bay Co. partial equipment and trade
.................................
goods list (From Rae 19 53)..
Figure 12: "Interview with the Esquimaux of the
Thleweechodezethn( From Back 1836). ..............
vii
Figure 13: Map of the central Canadian Arctic,
probable changes, Marginal Periphery. ................ 85
List of Tables
.............
Table 1: Summary of Predictions for the lncidental Zone 93
Table 2: Summary of Predictions for the Early
Contact Periphery ................. .. ............................... 95
Table 3: Summary of Predictions for the Late
Contact Periphery ........... ... ................................. 98
Table 4: Summary of Predictions for the
.................................................
Marginal Periphery.. 102
viii
Chapter 1: Introduction
This thesis examines long-term Inuit-European and -Euroamerican
intersocietal interaction in the central Canadian Arcüc (Figure 1) . This
geographical area is characterized by Damas (19 69, 1971, 1972, 1984a) as
incorporating the regions that encompass the traditional ranges of the
contigu ous Copper, Netsilik and lglul ik lnuit societies (Figure 2). Specif ically,
the thesis will anatyze changes in intra- and intergroup material trade networks
and soa-al relations resulting from indirect and direct contact with the
developing capitalist world-system.
It is shown that indirect contact in the form of the introduction of rnaterial
Vade items was a gradual. though constant, process that had a considerable
impact on the cultural development of these indigemus societies (e.g., Boas
1888; Rasmussen 1931 ; Renfrew 1984:119-121; Hickey 1984; Savelfe 1985;
Trigger 1985; McCartney 1991). 80th indirect and direct contact were greatiy
acœlerated during the 19th century and brought about significant cultural
change which, uîtimately, culminated in the complete articulation of the three
lnuit socleties within the modem capitalist world-system by the early 20th
century.
The theoretical approach to examining and understanding precapitalist
societies in the central Canadian Arctic followed in this thesls is world-system
theory (Wallerstein 1974, 19 80, 1989). Four important reformulations of world-
system theory will be applied within the theoretical context of the thesis: 1) the
-
pracess of "incorporation' the process through which indigenous groups are