B y marrying a trader, an Indian woman's family became the responsibility of the trader. He would help them get additional goods and support them in difficult times. They wanted no distractions from the primary work of the fur trade. They also wanted to avoid having a trader in greater debt because of commitments to his wife's family. The North West Company did not prohibit such marriages.
B eside the common role of maintaining the house, preparing food, etc.
Following Indian practice, they were often given responsibility for completing the construction of canoes and snowshoes. In both cases, the basic frame would be made by the men. Women would then complete the snowshoes by stringing them. While men would hunt for meat, all the other food gathered or grown was often the responsibility of the women in the camp. In many ways, the success of the trader and sometimes his very survival depended on having a skilled wife.