Paper Summary:

This paper examines the important contributions of women economically, domestically, and even politically to the Cree peoples of the Hudson Bay lowlands and to the Hidatsa peoples of the Western United States and Canada. The paper asks why and how these two groups of women came to assume enormous importance if not power in their respective cultures despite being largely consigned to domestic chores.

From the Paper:

"A Comparison of the Aboriginal Women of the Hudson Bay Lowland Cree and the Western Canadian and Northern Plains Hidatsa The aboriginal women of the Hudson Bay lowland Cree and the aboriginal women of the Northern Plains' Hidatsa share some similarities - but several differences, as well. The following paper will examine their respective social positions, their respective contributions, political influence, economic contributions and the impact they had upon their particular societies. More importantly, the succeeding paper will explore not only how, but why, the women of these two groups came to assume such enormous power in their aboriginal cultures - even if it may be said that the Cree culture was somewhat more patriarchal than its Hidatsa counterpart. In any event, as the next several pages should show, it is arguable - especially in the case of the Hidatsa - that the division of power within aboriginal society, far from marginalizing native women, gave them great power and importance."

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