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Contribution short abstract:

This paper sheds light on an often-overlooked aspect of Haudenosaunee expansion in the mid-seventeenth century: their negative environmental impact on the region's beaver population and, by extension, the broader ecosystem.

Contribution long abstract:

The violent westward expansion of the Haudenosaunee was the defining moment of seventeenth-century North America. While these expansions are often studied for their political and social ramifications, this paper sheds light on an often-overlooked aspect of these actions: their negative environmental impact on the region's beaver population. Combining historical records, archaeological evidence, and ecological insights, it explores how the Haudenosaunee's strategies for resource acquisition and management impacted the beaver population and, by extension, the broader ecosystem. The discussion begins by examining the Haudenosaunee's resource utilization practices, such as beaver trapping and the establishment of extensive beaver pond systems. These practices were not inherently unsustainable; however, the rapid expansion of Haudenosaunee territory placed immense pressure on local beaver populations. The paper also scrutinizes the consequences of their control over fur trade networks, which heightened demand for beaver pelts and contributed to overharvesting. Furthermore, this paper assesses the cascading ecological effects of declining beaver populations, including altered wetland dynamics, disrupted habitats for various species, and changes in water quality. It also considers the long-term cultural and economic impacts on the Haudenosaunee themselves, who relied on beavers for sustenance, trade, and cultural significance. By shedding light on the complex interplay between indigenous expansion, resource management, and environmental change, this paper contributes to a more holistic understanding of historical ecological transformations in North America. It underscores the importance of recognizing unintended environmental consequences in the context of indigenous territorial expansions and the need for sustainable resource management practices within a historical and ecological framework.