Trade (gifts for trading land with white people) refers to the exchange of goods, often symbolic gifts, between Native Americans and European colonists in the context of land acquisitions. These exchanges were often characterized by unequal power dynamics and misunderstandings, and the term “gifts” can be misleading as it implies a voluntary and reciprocal transaction.
The importance of this topic lies in its connection to the complex history of land dispossession and colonization in the Americas. By examining these exchanges, we can better understand the ways in which European colonizers asserted their dominance and control over Native American lands and resources.
