FEBRUARY 5, 1717

CHIPEWYAN WOMAN THANADELTHUR DIED—HUDSON’S BAY COMPANY GUIDE/TRANSLATOR

Born circa 1697, likely in present Manitoba (MB), Thanadelthur, whose name meant “Marten shake,” helped establish ties between the Chipewyan (also Denesuline) people and both the Cree & Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC). In the early 1700s, the fur trade led to hostilities between the Chipewyan & Cree. The Cree, living near HBC’s post at York, had firearms provided by HBC; the Chipewyan, with little European contact, had none. In early 1713, the Cree took Thanadelthur captive. Escaping, she traveled overland for over a year trying to find her people. In late 1714, she found HBC hunters who brought her to York. The HBC governor, seeing that Thanadelthur spoke English, Cree & Chipewyan, sent her in 1715 with an HBC & Cree party to meet with the Chipewyan. Finding a small Chipewyan group, she negotiated a truce with the Cree that allowed HBC to expand. Becoming ill in December 1716, Thanadelthur died at York. In 2000, Canada named her a person of national historic significance.

Sources: Heather Conn, “Thanadelthur,” The Canadian Encyclopedia, 1/15/2018.  Retrieved 8/29/2022, Thanadelthur | The Canadian Encyclopedia

Wikipedia

Painting: Franklin Arbuckle, 1952. “Ambassadress of Peace” shows Thanadelthur mediating between the Chipewyans (left) and Crees (right), while William Stewart watches from the sidelines. Public Domain: Source: Hudson’s Bay Company Archives, Archives of Manitoba.