Indians in Service

Forming relationships for mutual support with the Indians, frontier women exchanged good and services.  Native Americans brought butter, eggs, potatoes, corn, pumpkins, melons, strawberries, blackberries, vension, fish, and dried salmon to trade.  A welcome relief from a diet of salt pork, beans and bread.

Women also grew skilled at bargaining for buffalo hides and robes, antelope and elk clothing, moccasins, baskets, and beadwork.  Bargains and good deals were not easy to come by as on woman said in 1864 Montana "They not only recognized the difference between coins and greenbacks, but would only take the latter at 50 cents on the dollar."

Indians began to be hired to perform services such as guides, herders, wood cutters, shoveling, drawing water, nursemaids who taught children their native customs, dialects, games and food.  In exchange for working for the white man, the Indian expected to be well-treated, properly paid, and left free.

When it came down to it, individuals had more to do with it than anything else.  There are records of women calling for Indian doctors and nurses to tend their children. When one child's Indian nurse died, "we mourned him as though he were a member of the family".

So Indians became more desired as purveyors, assistants, and guides far more than they became enemies.  Settlers who were confident and realistic of their own roles, contributions and strengths became more secure and sympathetic in the relations with the American Indians.

Next time...Interactions of Men and Women Settlers