The Fur Trade: HBC and NWC Ms. Dow Socials 9

know about the Fur Trade? What do you already know about the Fur Trade? Work with a partner to complete the graphic organizer to the best of your abilities. Be prepared to share!

Hudson’s Bay Company During the 17th century, most of the fur-trading areas were controlled by the French Radisson and Grossiliers (French courier de bois), visited the Hudson’s Bay They proposed a company around the HB to France, and when refused, took their plea to London = Hudsons Bay Company Formed in 1670

Who worked for the HBC? Posts called ‘factories’, each with a head trader called ‘The Factor” who kept order Also “clerks” who looked after the store and exchange of goods “Labourers” loaded and unloaded boats Staffed by Europeans and traded with First Nations in the area

HBC Trading Methods The HBC practiced “Stay by the Bay” where the First Nations came to the HBC factors near the Hudsons Bay to trade During the summer, when there was a lot of trade, official trading ceremonies were held English passed the Royal Charter – forbid First Nations near them to trade with anyone else

Where were they located? Located in Ruperts Land and controlled all the area around the Hudsons Bay Very cold, lots of bugs Short trading season

Purpose for the HBC To exploit furs for their home country, England

HBC Method of Transportation Ships from trading posts to Europe First Nations travelled to the posts so HBC didn’t need inland transportation

North West Company After the fall of New France, Scottish and American traders took over the French fur trade = North West Company formed in 1783 Fierce rivalry with the Hudson’s Bay Company

Who worked for the NWC? People who ran NWC posts = “Nor’wester” “Voyageurs” transported good back and forth between Montreal and First Nations communities. They were often French Canadian or Metis.

NWC Trading Methods Trading methods very different from the Hudson’s Bay Company The NWC built many posts throughout the interior of the west and north that dealt with specific native communities and used voyageurs to transport furs and goods between posts and Montreal

Where was the NWC NWC land stretched all the way from Montreal to the Prairies! They were even able to intercept some groups on their way to HBC posts and trade with them – sneaky!

Purpose of the NWC To exploit furs for their home country, France

NWC Transportation Voyageurs travelled by canoe and were usually French Canadian or Metis Famous for their strength and endurance Could paddle for 50 min an hour, 10 hours a day

Early 1800s – Competition Early 1800s – Competition between the NWC and HBC Fur resources becoming dangerously depleted Fur traders moving across the Rocky Mountains into the North By 1820, both companies were nearly bankrupt

What were the consequences of the Fur Trade? Remember, consequences can be good or bad!

THE NATIVE PEOPLES OF THE NORTHWEST Before European contact, the Northwest was home to five aboriginal nations: Ojibwa Assiniboin Cree Chipewyan Inuit (on Northern edges of Hudson Bay)

First Nations People and the Fur Trade Aboriginal people had a long history of being involved in the fur trade as Trappers Traders Guides Middlemen (a dealer who exchanges goods between two parties)

Consequence: Disrupted first nations way of life Caused them to abandon other seasonal practices such as fishing and preserving food SO MUCH DEMAND FOR FURS, THEY WERE FORCED TO BE FULL- TIME TRAPPERS Is this economic, social, political, economic or environmental? Why?

Marriages between Europeans and First Nations The HBC was AGAINST this. This was because the HBC was concerned about having to support too many dependents They tried to enforce a policy of celibacy among it’s employees  unsuccessful The NWC were SUPPORTIVE of these marriages. Believed that it consolidated social and economic relations.

Consequence: The Metis European + First Nations Descendants Is this economic, social, political, economic or environmental? Why?

Assignment Now work to find more consequences of the Fur Trade to add to your graphic organizer. You can use your textbook (p. 132-139) and the supplemental notes (please return to Ms. Dow) Categorize each consequence using the graphic organizer.

Red River Settlement Ms. Dow Socials 9

THINGS ARE HEATING UP! In 1812, the rivalry between the NWC and the HBC would be pushed to the point of WARFARE!! Louis Riel Lord Selkirk

The Red River Settlement In 1812, an event took place that would drastically effect the Metis community, and the HBC and NWC Eventually, it would lead to the merger of HBC and NWC It would also lead to a unique settlement in the Northwest being created…

THOMAS DOUGLAS- A Man On a Mission Aka “Lord Selkirk” From Scotland Enclosure was causing many farmers in Scotland to have to move or work in factories. Many couldn’t afford to move to BNA. Lord Selkirk decides to help.

THOMAS DOUGLAS- A Man On a Mission Because he was also an HBC director, he launched a NEW PROJECT… He knew that the land in the Red River valley was very fertile He also knew that it was costly for the HBC to ship food for it’s workers all the way from England…

THE PLAN… Selkirk decided that he could solve two problems at the same time… 1) He could guarantee the farmers someone to sell their crops to! 2) He could save the HBC money!

See page 144 on your text for a better map! THE PLAN… See page 144 on your text for a better map! In 1811, Selkirk convinced the HBC to give him 300 000 km2 in what is now Manitoba. Selkirk and the HBC felt that they had the right to this land because it was part of Rupert’s Land As usual, the first nations were not consulted in this decision 

A Rough Beginning… The first group of people from Scotland and Ireland arrived in 1811 They were led by ex-militia Miles Macdonell They reached York Factory VERY late in the year (1811) and had to stay for the winter there. By the time the next wave of settlers arrived, they hadn’t even made it to their destination yet and they were forced to winter in Fort Pembina (100 km from their destination).

A Rough Beginning… In the spring of 1813, they finally arrived at the settlement…. They were overwhelmed by the climate and work They were devastated when their first crops failed They had no choice but to return to Fort Pembina for the winter

Pemmican Proclamation Mcdonell feared crops might fail (again) so he issued the Pemmican Proclamation in 1814 Banned the sale and export of pemmican from the Red River valley Meant to protect colonists, but infuriated Metis and NWC who relied on this trade

Assignment: Battle of Seven Oaks Complete the raphic Organizer in your notes to help you understand the Battle of Seven Oaks (p. 146-147) Who was involved? What happened? When did it happen? Where did it happen? Why is it significant?

Battle of Seven Oaks Who? Cuthbert Grant (Metis) and Robert Semple (colonists) What? Semple orders burning of Fort Gibraltar Metis raid York boats and steal pemmican 15 min gunfight – Semple and 20 men are killed, one Metis is killed Battle of 7 Oaks = Victory at Frog Plain When? June 19, 1816 Where? Red River Valley Why? Defining moment in Metis history. Metis tried to force colonists off their land, but Selkirk fiercely protected them. He negotiated a treaty to lease the land. Thinking this was over, he returned to England, but was faced with costly lawsuits against him and his employees.

Assignment Knowing what you know about the battle, deconstruct the Poem “The Ballad of Frog Plain” with a partner to demonstrate your knowledge.

Part 3: Hard times for the Fur Trade… By 1820, both the HBC and the NWC were suffering financially The law suits over the Red River colony were very expensive The beaver is disappearing rapidly Profits were shrinking THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH FURS IN THE NORTHWEST TO JUSTIFY TWO FULL SCALE TRADING COMPANIES…

Fur Trade Survival Plan In 1821, the HBC and the NWC decided that the only way to survive was to merge their companies The new company called HUDSON’S BAY COMPANY

The NEW Hudson’s Bay Co. With the 2 companies now united, the new HBC had control of all of Rupert’s Land and the land west of the Rocky Mountains (BC) A HUGE AMOUNT OF LAND!

Impacts of the Merger As with most companies when they merge, the HBC had to downsize (fire some workers). The new HBC appointed George Simpson as the director of the company He traveled to as many trading posts as he could He would arrive without warning and grill his staff if things were not up to his standard

The Red River Resistance- 1870

Lots of changes in the 1860’s… Many people immigrated to the Northwest Canada became a dominion (a country that rules itself) The HBC started to decline Many Canadians moved West to find available farm land

Canada Purchases Rupert’s Land John A Macdonald wanted to create a country stretching from sea to sea The HBC wanted to sell Rupert’s Land because the fur trade was declining and they were finding it difficult to maintain control over such a large territory They reached an agreement in November 1869- Rupert’s Land joined the North- Western Territory and the entire area was renamed “The North- West Territories”

Problems brewing… THAT SAME YEAR, LOUIS RIEL RETURNED The land surveyors assumed that the people who lived on the land did NOT own it and had no right to claim it… THAT SAME YEAR, LOUIS RIEL RETURNED TO THE RED RIVER…

Louis Riel Born in 1844, he was the son of Louis Riel Sr. who was the Metis leader for many years. He was a literate, well- educated lawyer He was fluent in both English and French He was an excellent speaker He was only 24 years old when he returned to the Red River

The Provisional Government Riel set up a Provisional gov’t They wanted the Red River Settlement to join Canada as it’s own province- Manitoba Riel’s Provisional Government

The Provisional Government Why did Riel want a new province? - He feared that if McDougall took charge of the area, the Metis would be ignored and would lose their rights