The Cree (pronounced the way it is spelled) is to this day the largest Indian group in Canada. Originally, the tribes were divided into two major divisions: the Woodland Cree, who lived in northwestern Manitoba and the forests of northern Saskatchewan, and the Plains Cree (those whom Bodmer came in contact with) were located in the plains of Saskatchewan. The Cree lived in a portion of North America with long winters and short summers. These seasons dictated the rhythm of their life.

The advent of fur trading influenced the Cree's interest in French goods. The Cree trapped beaver and sold or traded them to the French for cloth, beads or guns. The Cree's lifestyle was one that intrigued European explorers; there is documentation of French traders who raised families among the Cree. The Cree gradually adopted customs from the French, including Catholicism.

James Thompson