how European explorer David Thompson, with the help of Aboriginal Peoples, explored and documented many parts of western Canada

how European explorer David Thompson, with the help of Aboriginal Peoples, explored and documented many parts of western Canada

Three important ideas in this course are the following: first contact, relations between European immigrants and the Indigenous (Aboriginal) Peoples of Canada, and explorations of Canada. In this assignment, you will examine how European explorer David Thompson, with the help of Aboriginal Peoples, explored and documented many parts of western Canada.

Your task is to use the readings listed below and develop a five-page, argumentative essay (1000 words) on David Thompson. To be considered complete, your assignment must have the following:

1. Clear thesis statement with strong supporting evidence

2. Correct essay form and structure; clear concise writing[unique_solution]

3. Correct footnotes and bibliography (Chicago Manual of Style)

4. Evidence that 6 of the 7 sources have been consulted and information successfully incorporated into the essay

5. Your essay should, at a minimum, discuss:
   1. David Thompson’s work as an explorer and fur trader
   2. David Thompson’s relationships with Aboriginal peoples
   3. David Thompson’s historical significance

Formatting:

1. Name, Student Number and Course Name in the top right-hand corner of the first page

2. No need for title pages or cover sheets (just one staple)

3. Double Space all writing

4. 12-point size text; font is Times New Roman

5. 54cm (1-inch) margins all round

Seven sources are recommended for this assignment. You must use six of them. All sources are available online or through the KPU library:

1. John Nicks – “Thompson, David” in Dictionary of Canadian Biography
   1. This source is an encyclopedia and provides a nice overview of Thompson’s life and works. This is a good place to start your research.
   2. See the website: http://www.biographi.ca/en/index.php

2. William E. Moreau – The Writings of David Thompson, Volume 2 (2015)
   1. This is an edited collection of David Thompson’s own writings and can be found in the KPU library, online.
   2. This is a primary document of Thompson’s journal.
   3. Chapter 2, “The Natives of North America,” and the conclusion may be quite useful.

3. “David Thompson and the Fur Trade” – Artifacts associated with David Thompson as displayed by the government of Ontario
   1. These are pictures, maps, quotes, and physical objects associated with the life of David Thompson
   2. This is a set of primary documents and materials.
   3. See the website: http://www.archives.gov.on.ca/en/explore/online/thompson/fur_trade.aspx

4. Rosemary Neering – “The Enigmatic Explorer: was David Thompson a saint or a coward?”
   1. This is magazine article in BC Magazine that describes some of Thompson’s strengths and weaknesses.
   2. No one is perfect and a historical assignment should always consider all aspects of a person’s life.
   3. This article can be found in the KPU library, online.

5. Charles Norris Cochrane – David Thompson, The Explorer (1924)
   1. This is a very old source and believes in the “Great Man” theory of history (Great white men built the country and are perfect).