The Fur Trade

Outcomes “I understand who was involved in the fur trade and how it contributed to the development of Canada.” How did the First Nations, French, British, and Metis people interact with each other as participants in the fur trade? How did the fur trade contribute to the foundations of the economy in North America? How was Britain’s interest in the fur trade different from that of New France?

A Little Video

What’s competition? Competition Economic competition How do you see it? Economic competition When you are “winning” in an economic competition, you are controlling more wealth than other people If you are “winning” the economic competition in the fur trade, you are controlling more furs and the profit made from furs Britain vs. France

Partners in Trade At first, the Fur Trade was a partnership between European Traders and First Nation Hunters and Trappers Each one had something the other wanted: First Nations wanted Europeans metal goods; such as pots, knives, axes, and guns Europeans wanted the First Nations Furs; including beaver, lynx, muskrat, bear, and wolf.

Three Key Players Three major groups took part in the Fur Trade: The First Nations and Metis The Merchants The Traders

Three Key Players: First Nations The First Nations men would hunt and trap animals during the winter, while the women would skin and prepare the pelts In the spring when ice on rivers and lakes melted, the men and women would load their canoes and travel to trading posts to trade their furs for goods.

Three Key Players: The Merchants The Merchants were the ones who financed (paid for) and organized the trade in both the English and French fur trade They would purchase the trading goods in Europe, and then ship them over to North America. They would also pay for the furs to be shipped back Europe from North America, where they would then sell them to hat makers for a profit.

Three Key Players: The Traders The traders were responsible for the actual exchange of beaver (and other) furs and metal goods. Traders were the middlemen for the Fur Trade between the wealthy European Merchants and First Nation Hunter and Trappers French and British Traders had different approaches to trading with the First Nations

Three Key Players: The Traders French Approach The French Fur Traders were known as the Coureur de Bois or Voyageurs. They would paddle on long journeys into the wilderness to trade with the First Nations British Approach The British set up Trading Posts owned by the Hudson’s Bay Company First Nations would travel to these Trading Posts to trade with the British.

Vingettes

Relying on First Nations Without the First Nations, the Europeans would not have been involved in the Fur Trade. Europeans did not know how to cope in the North American wilderness. The First Nations helped them by: Showing them how to find food Teaching them how to make medicine Giving advice on how to dress warm for the winter Sharing knowledge of the region Providing canoes Helping them negotiate with different groups of First Nations

Think It Through The fur trade began very beneficial for both sides With a partner, discuss what each group contributed to the partnership and how each group benefitted. In your opinion, did one group benefit more than the other did? Explain.