Markets & Society E12

The experience of the Huron, an Iroquoian-speaking indigenous people of the Eastern US and Canada, provides an example of what I term “exogenous market logic” and shows how markets can function, not within, but at the boundary of society. In this episode, we delve into the details of how the Huron (or Wendat) emerged as a distinct society in land between Lake Ontario and Lake Huron. Drawing from the work of the eminent anthropologist Bruce Trigger, we trace the evolution of indigenous cultural, social, political and economic practices over many thousands of years, culminating with a turn toward sedentism enabled by the adoption of horticulture. In particular, we explore how the shift in social logic from a patrilineal to a matrilineal system was a major impetus for the development of a distinct “national” identity. Along the way, we’ll discuss the famous Dunbar number, the importance of prestige activities, the logic of conflict, and even the social importance of organized sports!