[History Hounds] The Power of the Pelt: Fur Trading in the Grand River Valley with Jessica Yann, Michigan State University

In the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries—an era fraught with colonial political challenges—trade was an important avenue for negotiating power. This presentation will focus on two Western Michigan fur traders who lived along the Grand River and their economic relationship with the Odawa in the area. By taking a closer look at trade and how it was handled, we can get a glimpse into how Native groups may have used such exchanges for their own benefit.

We'd like to thank the Historical Society of Michigan (HSM), which supports local history organizations, like us! They are continuing to make their History Hounds Lecture Series available online for free to members of HSM’s member organizations. Register for this remote presentation by 3:00pm the previous day. Click here to register. Select “A member of an Organizational Member of HSM” to enjoy this presentation at no charge.