In the 18th century, the Iroquois controlled the hunting grounds of western Pennsylvania where John Buxton lives. They rarely granted a commission for a white (or European) to hunt there. They had learned the value of animal pelts in trade and had become dependent upon it. In The Fur Trader, a buyer proudly displays his purchases on this day of trade. Deer hides (the white bundles in the foreground) provided leather and were the item traded for most in bulk. Specialty furs like beaver and fox would bring a higher price when he, in turn, brings them to market. All in all, it is a profitable day for this frontiersman.

In the background, Indians examine the various goods that they will seek in trade for the pelts they have provided. Guns, powder, blankets, copper pots, mirrors where popular items. In due course, the Indians traded away much more than they bargained for. Native Americans were self-sufficient people prior to the arrival of the Europeans and the idea of trading for goods. Ultimately, it changed the way they lived.