The Fur Trade
both mutually benefited from trading Early Fur Trade -First Nations controlled the trade -First Nations were active + skilled traders negotiated / bartered hard -Europeans relied heavily on First Nations: survival, knowledge, food etc. -Women were important negotiators both mutually benefited from trading
Maritime Trading vs Land Trading -took place on ships -FNs paddled out to ships in canoes and traded -trading was ceremonial -Euro’s treated as chiefs -took place on land / forts -trading took place at forts -Hudson Bay Company -North West Company First Nations wanted: Euros wanted: -iron -firearms -cloth -sugar, flour, tobacco, dishes, mirrors etc. -Furs -sea otter -beaver -mink
Fur Trade Consequences -resource depletion to near extinction by 1900 all marine animals were nearly extinct Beaver also hunted to near extinction -relationships broke down Euros disrespected FN way of life Fort construction increased heavily -Chinook Jargon: new language that was created as a result of fur trade
Fur Trade Impacts DISEASE SMALLPOX Seasonal Rounds changed: -men’s time dominated by hunting -less time to follow seasonal rounds Traditional role of women changed -heavily involved in fur trade: prepared kill (made furs) took care of village became trade negotiators married Europeans DISEASE SMALLPOX Nation boundaries changed: -nations expanded territories in pursuit of more furs -caused conflict with other FNs Influence of Euro World View: -fire arms, iron, cloth made life simpler -traditional “stewardship” model compromised