ASSINIBOIN - Main tribe that lived near and traded at Fort Union.

AMERICAN FUR COMPANY - Owner and operator of Fort Union. Founded by John Jacob Astor in 1808.

BARTER - Trading goods directly for other goods, without the use of money.

BASTIONS - Large, stone structures built to house the cannon and defend the fort; mostly used for storage and guest quarters.

BOURGEOIS - The post manager of the fort.

BUFFALO ROBES - Brain-tanned hides (the most valuable way of preparing the skins), with the hair intact, that were brought to the fort and used as an item for trade by the Indians.

BLACKFEET - Upper Missouri river tribe that came to trade at Fort Union.

CONFLUENCE - The point where the Yellowstone river joins the Missouri River.

ENGAGES - Laborers of the post that usually were French Canadians from Quebec.

PALISADE - Vertical, sawed logs that made up the wall around the fort.

PEMMICAN - Indian food adopted by the fur trade, made from berries (choke cherries, cranberries); and dried, shredded meat (deer, buffalo, elk) mixed with tallow or marrow fat.

TRADE GOODS - Articles for the Indian trade, such as knives, axes, firearms, beads, ammunition, blankets, and many other items.

SMALLPOX - Terrible disease which greatly reduced tribal numbers on several occasions in the upper Missouri River area.

STEAMBOAT - A steam powered boat used to haul freight and passengers up and down rivers. The ones that operated best on the Missouri were designed to float in approximately two feet of water.

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