In the 1700s and 1800s hats made from beaver were very popular. The people who made these hats used arsenic in tanning the hides. They became ill. The name beaver is from an old Native American word Mni, which means brown and refers to the animal's fur. Because of the beaver's astounding ability to build dams, sometimes replacing an entire dam ovemight, this remarkable mammal has come to represent industriousness and perseverance.
Beavers also symbolize gentleness and wisdom in some cultures.
The beaver has been of economic and religious importance to many native people of North America. For thousands of years Indians utilized beaver for its meat and fur. It has also been part of their religious ceremonies. In the 16th and 17th centuries, beaver became an important commodity in the trade between Indians and early settlers. The beaver trade.helped lead to the exploration of North America.