Winner of the 1989 Canadian Historical Association Regional History Certificate of Merit

Among Anglo-Canadian fur traders of the early 19th century, George Nelson stands out for his interest in the life and ways of the Native people he encountered. His letter-journal gives a more detailed portrayal of Algonquian religion than any other source before the 20th century. It describes the characteristics of individual spirit beings, the use of the "shaking tent" to facilitate communication between humans and spirits, the spirit-guardian relationship, the windigo monster, the significance of dreams, religious aspects of medicine, and myths of animal and human origins.