How did the fur trade change the Dene economy in the Mackenzie region?

When the fur trade reached the Mackenzie region in the 18th century, it fundamentally transformed the Dene economy. Prior to this, the Dene social structure consisted of small bands led by individuals skilled in hunting. This existing social organization was easily adapted to the requirements of the fur trade, which subsequently became the foundation of the Dene economy through the exchange of furs for imported goods.1

This economic shift integrated the Dene into a broader commercial network, though it also created a long-term dependency. When the fur trade declined in the 20th century, many Dene were left unemployed. While trapping remains a source of income for some of the aboriginal population in the Mackenzie area today, it now constitutes only a minor element of the regional economy.123