THE NORTHWEST TO 1870: The HBC, NWC, & Native Partners

THE HUDSON’S BAY CO. Founded by Radisson and Groseilliers HBC granted Royal Charter - exclusive trade rights given by the king Name the area Ruperts Land ‘Stay by the Bay’ policy. Only had trading posts at mouths of rivers. Strict standards little room for barter. Worked for salaries. Often had better quality goods. No booze and no fraternizing. Bosses called Factors Shipped furs directly to England every summer and received trade goods.

HUDSON’S BAY CO. RUPERT’S LAND All lands drained by rivers flowing into Hudson’s Bay (1/3 Can.) ‘Made Beaver’ (MB) became common currency. Ice free ports from July to Sept. made trade swift and precise. Mb in Canada Like cigarettes In prison.

THE NORTH WEST CO. - French Can. Traders that went to the Natives in the interior. Emerged from the ‘Montrealers’ who were English fur traders who seized the trade after New France fell. -Continued to hire French Canadians as traders. Worked on commission and were much more aggressive with a more loose business structure and chain of command. Hiverants (wintering partners) stayed in the Northwest and did actual fur trading. Fraternizing more common and marriages occurred. Voyageurs (the muscle) paddled and transported the goods. More willing to barter and often used alcohol which the HBC would not do. Ft. William - Main trading post Ft. William Trading Post

THE NORTH WEST CO. The NWCo. moved inland and made trade easier for the Natives. Several inland posts were constructed. Fort William was established at head of Lake Superior. These headquarters also had to be time specific as winter froze rivers.

TRANSPORTATION YORK BOAT - HBCo. double ended wood boat. - carried up to 3-6000kiograms. - heavy & hard to portage. - 13 meters long / sail or paddle. CANOTS DU NORD/MAITRE NWCo. Canoes - 7-11m long. up to 4000 kilograms. Made of birch bark. Smaller but more portable for portages. Canot du Maitre Canot du Nord

THE NATIVE PEOPLES OF THE NORTHWEST Home of four aboriginal nations. The Ojibwa, the Assiniboine, the Cree, and the Chipewyan. The Inuit were further north. Natives became so involved in the fur trade that it disrupted their traditional way of life. Became the ‘middle men’ of the fur trade. HBC encouraged these groups to Bring their furs to the trading posts where they could exchange for goods. Contact with Europeans resulted in disease. Smallpox and measles.

THE NATIVE PEOPLES OF THE NORTHWEST -The Chipewyan and the Cree were among the first groups to help guide French and English fur traders of the HBC and NWC. -They also supplied most of the furs for The trading posts. -These groups, as well as the Ojibwa moved with the companies as they explored new territory and thus left traditional homelands in some cases. -Pursuit of trade caused many groups to abandon their traditional fishing, hunting, and food preservation methods.

Imagine you have been dropped off in front of Caledonia school in 1800 Imagine you have been dropped off in front of Caledonia school in 1800. There aren’t any buildings, roads, or businesses. You must find the daily necessities using the land around you. You will need to find food, shelter from the elements and other people and animals, airable land, identify areas of danger, and record distances from key locations. Refer to the map drawn by a HBC employee in your textbook on page 137 for reference.

Imagine you have been dropped off in front of Caledonia school in 1800 Imagine you have been dropped off in front of Caledonia school in 1800. There aren’t any buildings, roads, or businesses. You must find the daily necessities using the land around you. You will need to find food, shelter from the elements and other people and animals, arable land, identify areas of danger, and record distances from key locations. Refer to the map drawn by a HBC employee in your textbook on page 137 for reference.