The Fur Trade

Essential Question

How did the Fur Trade, European settlement, and the rise of the Metis Nation transform the life for the peoples of the

Northwest?

SIDENOTE: North America16 beaver pelts = 1 musket

Britain

1 beaver pelt = 16 muskets

Two Fur Trade Giants

The Hudson’s Bay Company

The Northwest Company

In 1668, businessmen from England

(supported by the influence of Prince Rupert) financed a voyage to North America

Attempting to find a more efficient trading route through the north of Canada

St. Lawrence route was long and convoluted

Two ships: “The Eaglet” and “The Nonsuch”

Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC)

Only “The Nonsuch”

arrived in Canada (the other ship turned back due to weather damage)

Crew landed in James Bay

Found rich fur trade opportunities with the Cree traders in the area

Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC)

SIDE NOTE:The only life-size replica of “The Nonsuch” can be found in the Manitoba Museum.

Returning to England with

all of the furs, the businessmen asked the King for a trading monopoly Sole trading rights to the

land that drains into Hudson’s Bay

1670, HBC is officially born

Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC)

Trading posts on the coast:

Cree trading partners trap furs and bring them to trading posts

HBC didn’t have to pay extra to send traders inland

Ships could travel quickly back to England through Hudson’s Bay (faster than the old St. Lawrence route)

Advantages for HBC

Founded in the 1779

A united group of British, Scottish, American, and French from the St. Lawrence region

Based in Montreal

Used St. Lawrence route to transport furs to England

Used in-land traders known as Nor’Westers or Voyageurs

The Northwest Company (NWC)

Attempt to compete with success of HBC

Between 1790 and 1791, NWC founders attempted to challenge the HBC fur-trade monopoly of Rupert’s Land

British government refused to do so

Each company had enforced boundaries where they were allowed to trap and trade

The Northwest Company

(NWC)

Access to all of the inland

areas not used by HBC

Vast amounts of territory

Exploited new fur sources in the West that had not been discovered by HBC

Advantages for NWC

Paying inland traders is more expensive

(traders must travel for weeks at a time, need more supplies)

Voyageurs must bring furs all the way back to Montreal

St. Lawrence route back to England is slower and more convoluted than Hudson’s Bay route

Disadvantages for NWC

Attempts to move into each

others territory

Burn each other’s boats and forts

Bribe the other company’s traders

Attempt to give better rates to the First Nations groups to win over their service

HBC vs NWC: Fierce Rivalry

Competition between the companies for furs and

territory led to the European exploration of Canada West

Fur trade relationships formed the basis for many of the Aboriginal-European relationships at the time

Voyageurs lived among the Aboriginal cultures, eventually leading to the rise of the Metis culture Combination of European and First Nations traditions

Some Impacts of the Fur Trade

The Hudson’s Bay Companyaka “The Bay”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apG-411fsVc