Conversation so far:
What is significant about the fur trade in Canada?
Harold Innis's interest in the relationship between empires and colonies was developed in his classic study, The Fur Trade in Canada.
What was in his study?
The book chronicles the trade in beaver fur from the early 16th century to the 1920s.
Are there any other interesting aspects about this article?
Unlike many historians who see Canadian history as beginning with the arrival of Europeans, Innis emphasizes the cultural and economic contributions of First Nations peoples.
What was his reasoning?
"We have not yet realized," he writes, "that the Indian and his culture was fundamental to the growth of Canadian institutions.

Question: How did he determine that?
Self-contained rewrite: How did Harold Innis determine the Indian and his culture was fundamental to the growth of Canadian institutions?