The Fur Trade in The Fur Trade in CanadaCanada

“We were Caesers, being no one to contradict us…”

-Pierre-Esprit Radisso

-Translation: “We were the kings and our kingdom was the wilderness…”

Hudson’s Bay CompanyHudson’s Bay Company

- The Flag of the Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC)- Founded in 1670 by King Charles II

Fort Vancouver established by the Hudson Bay Company

The Mighty York Boat

HBC Main Points:HBC Main Points:• British company founded 1670 by a Royal Charter

signed by King Charles II• “Stay at the Bay” policy with Native trappers coming

to them with furs• Very Hierarchical (like the military, rank was very

important)• Controlled and traded in an area roughly 1/3 the

size of modern Canada.• All employees made a salary (no sharing in profits

or losses)• Main fort was York Factory

Map of Rupert’s Land

The Fight is On!!!• Challenge to the HBC domination of the

fur trade in Canada.

• Enter the North West Company

The North West CompanyThe North West Company• 1783 several companies trading furs merged

into the North West Company

• Although owned by English Canadians, French traders were employed.

• Workers shared in the profits or losses of the company.

• Origin of Métis (French & First Nation).

• Based in Montreal and traded throughout the North West.

The NWC CanoesFur Trade

North West CompanyNorth West Company

• Much less hierarchical or “top-down” than the HBC.

• The “Montreal partners” stayed in Montreal and traded the furs to London

• The “wintering partners” stayed in the North West and did the actual trading and trapping.

• They were partners, not employees and thus shared in the profits the NWC made.

1820 Trading Coin

Map of NWC Trading Area

EXPLORERS

Captain James Cook

-Born in England

- Explored New Zealand,Australia, Hawaii and the westCoast of North America (Vancouver Island)

- Was killed in Hawaii

Captain George Vancouver

-Born in England

-Captain in the British Navy

-Explored and mapped a lot of the Pacific West Coast (British Columbia, Alaska, Oregon & Washington State)

Alexander Mackenzie-Born in Scotland

-Family moved toAmerica, but thenmoved to Montreal during the American Revolution

- Completed the first transcontinental crossing of North America when he made it to the Pacific Ocean for the North West Company

Simon Fraser

-Born in America

-Father died in the American Revolution

-Raised in Quebec

-Worked in the North West Company

- Explored much of BC

David Thompson-Born in England

-He mapped around 2 millionsquare km of western North America

- He worked for both the Hudson Bay and the North West Company

-Was an English Canadian fur trader, map maker and explorer

- Married to a Cree wife for 58 years and had 13 kids