The Fur Trade Era in BC 1770s-1849 BCFNS 12

Imperialism Imperialism refers to a policy of extending rule of a nation or empire over foreign nations and of taking territory and holding control over the people who live there.

First Nations Trade Nuxalk-Dakelh Grease Trail http://158.130.17.5/~myl/languagelog/archives/MacKenzieRoute.jpg Remember that First Nations traders were already established in North America and traded many goods between themselves before the Europeans came along- including furs

British Colonialism The search for resources and new markets to increase profits fueled British colonialism. During the period of colonialism, Britain eventually controlled most of India, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and large portions of eastern and southern Africa. They were the largest empire in the world.

British Colonialism British colonial efforts were justified by what was called “white man’s burden,” which asserted that native peoples were not capable of governing themselves and needed the white British colonialist to provide and maintain order.

Who were the Europeans? The Europeans were representatives of countries in Europe that were looking for a sea route to Asia Spain, Britain, France, Russia and others They wanted the trade goods they could get in Asia These countries were also in strong competition with each other to become rich and powerful They built their wealth and power by taking over parts of the world and making money from the resources they found there – This idea is called IMPERIALISM

Imperialism – Build an Empire FRANCE and GREAT BRITAIN MOTHER COUNTRY TAKES OVER A COLONY TAKE OVER what will become CANADA Use as a source of raw materials (food, gold, metals, wood) to send back to mother country They use it a source of raw materials (furs, fish, wood) to send back to mother country Use raw materials to make money and to create products to sell back to the colonies Use raw materials to make money and to create products to sell back to the colonies Colony buys goods from mother country Colony buys goods from mother country

You can’t really see the map very well, but you can see from the purple lines that ships were sent out to explore and take over territory This is Europe

The Age of Exploration – 1490s-1800s The northwest region of North America (British Columbia, Oregon, Washington) was one of the last areas to be explored by the Europeans It was a difficult area to get to – over land they had to face the Rockies, while at sea, they had to round South America – rough seas!

Explorers came by land as well as by sea Juan Perez Cook Vancouver By land Mackenzie Fraser Thompson

Arrival of Europeans Europeans came from two directions with interesting trade goods that made the lives of First Nations easier Guns Iron An intense period of trade began between First Nations and Europeans

The Role of First Nations people Europeans depended upon First Nations communities and individuals for guiding, carrying mail, supplying food for daily survival and trapping the animals for furs

The Pacific The Spanish, British and the Russians were the early explorers of the Pacific Northwest Spain claimed the Pacific for itself, but England argued that they should visit a place before claiming it for themselves Very little thought was put into the people who already owned the territory

Early contact Perhaps Spanish explorer Juan de Fuca reached Vancouver Island by 1592 –no evidence Russia had colonized the Aleutian Islands by 1770s and were headed south Spanish send spies to see how far south the Russians had made it This led to the first recorded contact between a BC First Nation and Europeans

Juan Perez and the Haida Gwaii - 1774 Perez’s ship was too big to put in at shore, but the Haida sent a boat out to meet with them and brought trade goods Weather forced him to leave shortly after this, and he did also put in at Yuquot (Nootka Sound) on the west coast of Vancouver Island with the Nuu-chal-nulth He noted they had copper and iron goods – showing trade goods had made it over the Rockies

Captain Cook - 1778 Four years later, another explorer landed - again at Yuquot (Nootka Sound) Captain Cook from England was in charge of this expedition Read p. 65

Importance of Cook’s visit Cook’s ships left with 1 500 sea otter pelts While Cook never made it home (he died in Hawaii), news of the rich area of furs and the fantastic profit to be made was spread by his officers They also took a tree used for a mast The race for furs – and timber - was on

Imperialism – Build an Empire Use as a to mother country They use it to mother country Use raw materials to to sell back to the colonies Use raw materials to sell back to the colonies Colony country Colony country