The Smallpox Epidemic of 1837: A Tragedy Across Alberta’s Indigenous Communities
The smallpox epidemic of 1837 was one of the most devastating events in the history of the prairies, leaving a profound and lasting impact on Indigenous nations in Alberta. Sweeping through the plains with unrelenting ferocity, the epidemic claimed thousands of lives, particularly among the Blackfoot Confederacy and the Cree. Entire communities were decimated, and the social, cultural, and political structures of these nations were deeply disrupted.
Smallpox was not just a biological tragedy; it was an event intertwined with the dynamics of colonialism, the fur trade, and the expansion of European influence into Indigenous lands. The epidemic’s arrival and rapid spread reflect the vulnerabilities created by increasing contact with European traders and settlers. The consequences of 1837 reshaped the history of Alberta’s Indigenous peoples, setting the stage for further challenges in the decades to come.
The Arrival and Spread of Smallpox
Smallpox was not a new scourge to the Americas by 1837; it had arrived with European colonizers in the 16th century and repeatedly swept through Indigenous populations, who had no natural immunity to the disease. However, the epidemic of 1837 was particularly catastrophic in its scale and impact. Carried along trade routes, it spread rapidly through the interconnected networks of the fur trade, aided by the movement of traders, voyageurs, and goods along the rivers and plains of the west.
The epidemic is often traced to a single source: the steamboat St. Peter’s, which travelled along the Missouri River in 1837. Carrying goods and passengers, the vessel inadvertently introduced smallpox to the Northern Plains. From there, the disease spread northward, reaching Alberta through the intricate trade and social connections that linked Indigenous nations across the prairies.
Historian Arthur J. Ray, in “Indians in the Fur Trade,” notes, “The interconnectedness that sustained the fur trade became a double-edged sword, enabling smallpox to move swiftly across vast distances, infecting communities that had no defense against its deadly toll.”
Impact on the Blackfoot Confederacy
The Blackfoot Confederacy, composed of the Siksika, Kainai (Blood), and Piikani (Peigan) nations, was among the hardest hit by the epidemic. As a dominant force on the southern plains, the Blackfoot had long maintained extensive trade networks and alliances, both among themselves and with other nations. These connections, while vital for trade and diplomacy, also facilitated the rapid spread of smallpox.
The effects of the epidemic were catastrophic. Entire Blackfoot villages were wiped out, with mortality rates estimated at between 50% and 75%. Oral histories describe scenes of unimaginable devastation, as families and communities succumbed to the disease, leaving few survivors to bury the dead or continue traditional practices.
The loss of life among the Blackfoot Confederacy was not merely a demographic event; it was a profound cultural and political disruption. The epidemic undermined the confederacy’s ability to defend its territory and maintain its alliances, leaving it vulnerable to external pressures. Historian Hugh A. Dempsey, in “The Blackfoot: People of the Plains,” observes, “The epidemic of 1837 dealt a blow to the Blackfoot Confederacy from which it would never fully recover, weakening its dominance on the plains and opening the door to encroachments by other nations and settlers.”
Impact on the Cree
The Cree, who occupied the parklands and northern plains of Alberta, were similarly devastated by the epidemic. As key players in the fur trade, the Cree maintained close relationships with European traders and other Indigenous nations, including the Assiniboine and Métis. These connections, while economically advantageous, also exposed them to the disease.
Like the Blackfoot, the Cree suffered staggering losses, with entire communities disappearing. The loss of elders, who were the keepers of oral traditions, and leaders, who guided the political and social structures of the nation, left the Cree struggling to rebuild in the aftermath of the epidemic.
The epidemic also exacerbated tensions between the Cree and other nations. Resource competition, particularly in the wake of the fur trade’s intensification, already strained relationships. The sudden demographic collapse created power vacuums and destabilized alliances, reshaping the political landscape of the region.
The Role of the Fur Trade in the Epidemic
The fur trade was both a conduit for the disease and a context in which its impact was felt most acutely. By the 1830s, the Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC) had consolidated its control over the fur trade in Alberta following its merger with the North West Company in 1821. Trading posts such as Fort Edmonton, Rocky Mountain House, and Fort Vermilion were key sites of interaction between European traders, Métis families, and Indigenous trappers.
These posts became unintended hubs for the spread of smallpox. Indigenous trappers, bringing furs to trade, often contracted the disease at these posts and carried it back to their communities. The HBC, while aware of the dangers of smallpox, lacked both the medical knowledge and the infrastructure to contain its spread.
Historian Harold A. Innis, in “The Fur Trade in Canada,” notes, “The fur trade, by its very nature, facilitated the movement of goods, people, and diseases, creating a tragic paradox in which the system that sustained Indigenous livelihoods also brought about their devastation.”
Cultural and Social Consequences
The smallpox epidemic of 1837 left lasting scars on Alberta’s Indigenous communities. The loss of life disrupted traditional practices, as entire generations of knowledge-keepers and cultural leaders were wiped out. Ceremonial practices, oral histories, and governance systems were weakened, leaving survivors struggling to preserve their cultural identities.
In the wake of the epidemic, Indigenous nations also faced increasing pressures from European traders and settlers. The demographic collapse made it difficult for nations like the Blackfoot and Cree to defend their territories and negotiate on equal terms. The epidemic, in this sense, was not an isolated event but part of a larger process of colonial encroachment that would intensify in the decades to come.
Resilience and Recovery
Despite the devastation, Indigenous nations demonstrated remarkable resilience in the aftermath of the epidemic. Survivors worked to rebuild their communities, adapt their economies, and preserve their cultural practices. The fur trade, while diminished in some areas, continued to provide a vital source of livelihood, allowing nations to maintain connections with both their traditional territories and emerging trade networks.
The Métis, who were less affected by the epidemic due to their mobility and geographic dispersion, played a key role in supporting Indigenous communities during this period. Their position as intermediaries between European traders and Indigenous nations allowed them to facilitate the flow of goods and information, helping to stabilize the region.
Conclusion
The smallpox epidemic of 1837 was a tragedy of immense proportions, reshaping the demographic, cultural, and political landscape of Alberta. The Blackfoot Confederacy and Cree, among others, bore the brunt of the epidemic, suffering losses that would take generations to recover from. The fur trade, while central to the region’s economy, became a conduit for the disease, highlighting the complex and often devastating intersections of commerce and colonialism.
As historian Hugh A. Dempsey reflects, “The epidemic of 1837 was a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities created by the fur trade and the broader forces of colonial expansion. Yet it also underscored the resilience of Indigenous nations, who persevered in the face of unimaginable loss.” The legacy of this event continues to resonate in Alberta’s history, a testament to both the challenges and the enduring strength of its Indigenous peoples.
References
- Dempsey, Hugh A. The Blackfoot: People of the Plains. University of Alberta Press, 1989.
- Ray, Arthur J. Indians in the Fur Trade. University of Toronto Press, 1998.
- Innis, Harold A. The Fur Trade in Canada. University of Toronto Press, 1956.
- Carter, Sarah. Aboriginal People and Epidemics in the Fur Trade Era. University of Alberta Press, 1999.