(1697-1717)
Hudson Bay Company
The strong-willed sixteen year old, managed to escape, but cold and hunger prevented her finding the way back to her people; so she roamed aimlessly until discovered by employees of the Hudson Bay Company, who took her to Fort York on November 24, 1714.
While there she met with the Fort's governor, James Knight, who recognized her intellect, and asked why the Chipewyan people were no longer coming to trade there. She informed him of the Cree aggression that left everyone in fear, but also advised that in her travels she had spotted a mine with yellow metal, that was worth looking into. Now whether, in fact, she did see such a mine or not, is open for debate, but she knew how to pique the interest of the European traders, and it worked. Knight immediately organized an expedition and assigned William Stuart, a Company employee, to lead it; with Thanadelthur acting as his guide.
By Twenthieth century standards this might seem a little odd, entrusting such an important mission to a woman, but while even then; European men thought of women as physically weak, delicate creatures who could not survive without the kindness and protection of men; they knew that North American women were different. In fact, the Chipewyans would laugh at such a notion. Women were expected to be physically stronger than men. They could pull or carry twice as much as any man, and in summer carried up to 60 kilograms on their backs. The Nation's very survival depended upon the skilled labor of strong women who spent most of their waking hours at work. As one observer put it; "A woman with a lovely face but poor work skills could not keep her family from starvation."
Though cold and lack of food soon hampered the mission, they trudged on, but when they discovered five slaughtered Chipewyans; at the edge of a forest; Stuart was ready to call it quits. However, Thanadelthur convinced him to wait ten more days while she, alone, went to the Chipewyan. If she was not back in the agreed upon length of time, he should presume her dead and head back to Fort York. On the 10th day, when there was no sign of the woman, Stuart began packing up when she reappeared trimphantly, with the news that peace was established. All in a day's work.
Overall, the English did not find the mission a total success; since no precious metals were discovered; but fuelled on by the young woman's determination, Knight planned another expeditition, hoping to travel as much as 1,500 kilometres with their capable guide. Sadly, Thanadelthur took ill and died at the fort on February 7, 1717. Knight said of her "She was one of a very high Spirit and of the Firmest Resolution that ever I've seen in any Body in my Days. and a woman of great Courage."
Now convinced of the importance of using women as interpreters, Knight quickly bought another Chipewyan slave for 60 pelts in merchandise and sent her out with Richard Norton in July 1717. He writes; "I am now building of a factory at Churchill River to try whether I can gett this trade after all these dissapointments, & have now sent the surviveing (sic) Northern Mann & a Young Woman as I bought Since, wth an English Ladd, to go & Give their Country People Notice as I am here abuilding; ..."
In 1769, Samuel Hearne found the wrecks of both ships and the ruins of a shelter in a cove on Marble Island. The Inuit informed him, that some 50 men had built a house in late fall of 1719 after their ships had sunk, but by the summer of 1721, they were all dead.
This put an end to the exploration of the region, especially with regards to locating the illusive Northwest passage, but the story of the great ambassador Thanadelthur, lives on in Canadian history.
