| Summary: | Commercial fur trapping, once the primary economic activity of the aboriginal inhabitants of the Northwest Territories, now accounts for only a small fraction of the income received by native people. Many adult native males do continue to engage in commercial trapping, nevertheless, though with varying degrees of commitment. A review of the recent literature reveals a wide variety of suggested motivations for this continuing involvement. Through the use of econometric techniques we are able to analyze the motivations of two distinct sub-groups of trappers. One group, accounting for about 15% of those who trap, has a substantial commitment to the activity and is motivated primarily by the income-earning potential of fur sales. The second group, which includes approximately 85% of the participants, consists of those whose participation is best explained by the lack of alternative employment opportunities.
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