Papers by Daniel R Laxer
McGill-Queen's University Press eBooks, Apr 5, 2022
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Ontario history, 2017
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The fur trade in northern North America during the period of 1760-1840 introduced both Europeans ... more The fur trade in northern North America during the period of 1760-1840 introduced both Europeans and First Nations peoples to new sounds, musical forms, and dances. Permeating nearly every aspect of the fur trade’s operation, from travel and transportation, cross-cultural encounters, establishing and strengthening relationships, exchanging material goods, and celebrating holidays and special occasions, a distinct soundscape and musical culture developed. First alerted to the presence of Europeans by the sounds of gunpowder, customs of saluting and signaling by firing weaponry were soon adopted and adapted by First Nations peoples in their activities and interactions with fur traders. The colonial warfare that characterized the Great Lakes for much of this period introduced military instruments such as drums, bugles, and bagpipes to the trading posts, which gradually shed their disciplinary associations and were employed instead in fur trade rituals and recreational activities. While...
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In the North American fur trade, food and clothing were among the most frequently exchanged mater... more In the North American fur trade, food and clothing were among the most frequently exchanged material, serving both as necessities of life and expressions of identity. Not only were materials exchanged but new fashions and tastes developed among fur traders and First Nations across North America from the 1600s to the early 1800s. This article examines these two realms of material culture through the link of sensory history, suggesting that they were central to the experiences of the fur trade and indicate patterns of cultural exchange and reciprocity. Dress and diet were key signposts of identity and markers of difference, yet patterns of material exchanges during the expansion of the North American fur trade produced hybrid styles in both clothing and food that were geographically widespread. Examining material culture through a sensory history approach reveals new understandings of the adaptations that shaped the fur trade.
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The collection and publication of folk songs was considered central to the expression of national... more The collection and publication of folk songs was considered central to the expression of nationalism and national identity in the nineteenth century. The Irish poet Thomas Moore’s three-voiced glee titled “A Canadian Boat Song” was published in 1805 and was supposedly based on a folk melody of the French-Canadian voyageurs. This article explores how this invention of tradition relied on the pretense of authenticity to stand in as Canada’s national song, sparking its own category of poetry and music known as Canadian boat songs. It influenced the imaginings and experiences of British newcomers and immigrants, inspiring folk song collections and nationalist compositions that produced early articulations of English-Canadian national identity.
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John Franklin's voyages to the arctic were commemorated in popular songs during the nineteenth ce... more John Franklin's voyages to the arctic were commemorated in popular songs during the nineteenth century, yet they told very different stories about his exploits and legacy.
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Book Reviews by Daniel R Laxer
Ontario History, 2019
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Ontario History, 2017
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Canadian Historical Review, 2009
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Papers by Daniel R Laxer
Book Reviews by Daniel R Laxer