Thanadelthur
Thanadelthur | |
---|---|
Born | c. 1697 Canada |
Died | 5 February 1717 York Factory, Manitoba |
Nationality | Chipewyan |
Occupation | Interpreter |
Thanadelthur "Thanadeltth'er" (c. 1697 – 5 February 1717) was a woman of the Chipewyan Dënesųłı̨ne nation who served as a guide and interpreter for the Hudson's Bay Company. She was instrumental in forging a peace agreement between the Dënesųłı̨ne (Chipewyan) and the Cree people. She was trilingual, able to speak English, Chipewyan, and Cree.[1]
Life
Thanadelthur is thought to have been born during 1697. In early 1713, a party of Dënesųłı̨ne was attacked by Crees and their women were captured; among these was Thanadelthur. Women were sometimes the cause of tribal warfare, and were the prizes once the battle was over.[2] Female slaves were valuable to the tribal workforce, and this added to the high female mortality rate among them as well.[2] After spending the winter with their Cree captors, Thanadelthur and one other woman escaped and attempted to rejoin their people. Cold and hunger prevented them from doing so, however, and the two endured a year of hardship until Thanadelthur's travelling companion died. Five days later Thanadelthur was discovered by goose hunters from the Hudson's Bay Company. Her story was never self-documented despite all of her dealings with the Hudson's Bay Company, and all of her legacy is contained in the journals from members of the HBC.[3]
She reached the safety of
Thanadelthur was given many gifts by Knight to present to her people once the negotiations were complete. Knight gave her the name "Slave Woman Joan," after Joan of Arc.[4][5][6] The title "slave woman" itself came from the fact that she was a Cree slave, and once escaping, Knight added "Joan" to her name for her valiant efforts in translating the agreements between the HBC and the Cree and the Dene.[2]
Initially, Knight intended to provide safe passage for Thanadelthur and the Dënesųłı̨ne so that they could return to their home country in 1716. A harsh winter and enduring fear of bands of Cree who had not been parties to the peace agreement prevented this, however, and caused him to allow the Dënesųłı̨ne to spend the winter at the company factory.
A promised trading post in the Dënesųłı̨ne lands had not been built, and Thanadelthur's next mission from Knight was to return to her home country and assure her people that the post eventually would be built. Before that could be accomplished, however, she died of a fever on February 5, 1717. Thanadelthur received a ceremonial burial from Knight, and he stated that although the weather was nice that day, it was the "most Meloncholys't by the Loss of her."[2] He also stated that he had difficulty finding another native translator for the time, and ended up spending "above 60 skins value in goods" to replace Thanadelthur.[2]
Legacy
The Dënesųłı̨ne (Chipewyans) are a national group that is a member of a much larger
The lasting peace agreement honed by Thanadelthur paved the way for expansion of the Hudson's Bay Company farther north and led to further integration of the arriving Europeans into the tribes of the native Indians.[4][5]
In 2000, the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada recognized Thanadelthur as a national historic person of Canada.[9][10]
In 2017, a plaque commemorating her life was erected in
In popular media
Thanadelthur is portrayed as a leading character in the James Archibald Houston's novel Running West, along with William Stewart and James Knight. The novel traces her life from the time she is captured and enslaved by Cree Indians, through the journey from York Factory to the land of the Dene, and their return.[12]
Canadian musician Mike Ford recorded the song "Thanadelthur" on his second album Canada Needs You.[13]
References
- ^ a b Noel, Jan (2015). "The powerful influence of Iroquois women". Herizons.
- ^ a b c d e f Van Kirk, Sylvia. "The role of women in the fur trade society of the Canadian west 1700- 1850" (PDF).
- ^ Reilly, Sarah. "History Idol: Thanadelthur". Canada's History.
- ^ a b c Thorman, G. E., Thanadelthur, vol. 2, retrieved 8 October 2015
- ^ a b "Our History: People: Women: Thanadelthur". HBC Heritage. Retrieved 8 October 2015.
- ISBN 0-8061-1847-4. Retrieved 25 January 2010.
thanadelthur.
- ^ a b c d "Thanadelthur | Rearview | Province of Manitoba". www.gov.mb.ca. Archived from the original on 17 October 2008.
- ^ Van Kirk, Sylvia. "Thanadelthur". Canada's History.
- ^ Thanadelthur National Historic Person. Directory of Federal Heritage Designations. Parks Canada.
- ISBN 1-55002-514-7. Retrieved 25 January 2010.
- ^ "New Names of Minor Planets" (PDF). WGSBN Bulletin. 4 (6): 7. 29 April 2024. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
- ISBN 978-0-5175-7732-5.
- ^ "Canada Needs You (Volume One) CD". Maple Music. Retrieved 8 October 2015.