Fur Trade Grade 5 Social

What is the Fur Trade? The fur trade was started when the first Europeans came to Canada. Both the First Nations and Europeans had something that other did not have.

What is the Fur Trade The first trade was probably a knife, pot or blanket for a beaver fur. Trading took place because there was not any money back in that time.

How did the Fur Trade work? Both the Europeans and First Nations both had goods that the other wanted. The First Nations had furs and food that the Europeans needed to survive and wanted to have.

How did the Fur Trade work? The Europeans had goods like a pots, knives, muskets, blankets, coats, etc. They would meet and discuss what each item could be traded for.

Typical Trades A beaver fur could be traded for a blanket A wolf fur could be traded for a musket A rabbit fur could have been traded for a knife.

What started the Fur Trade? People over in Europe all wanted the furs from the new world The most popular item was the beaver hat. Everyone wanted a beaver hat, so that caused more people to go over to the new world to get beaver fur.

Fur Trade Posts As the settlements grew, posts were established all around the new world. The Fur Trade posts were a place were people could go and trade their furs.

Fur Trade Posts These posts were built near water. They were surrounded by a wall. The post master organized and over saw all trades.

Role of First Nations The first nations trapped the animals for their fur. They traded with the Europeans for goods. They also hunted food and traded it. Some tribes built their homes around forts.

Coureur des Bois It means “runner of the wood” These were Europeans who learned how to hunt and trap like the First Nations. They lived like the First Nations.

Coureur des Bois They went out and traded with the First Nations. They were independent. They did not have permission of the French government. They later became the Voyageurs.

Etienne Brule He was sent by Champlain to live with the Huron in 1610. He learned their customs and way of life He was the first Coureur des Bois. He helped as a interpreter, explorer, and with the fur trade.

Voyageurs They were licensed, second generation coureur des bois. They worked for fur trade companies. They transported goods to the various posts around Canada.

Voyageurs They were strong men, who traveled by canoe. They were known for their red sashes. They also went and traded furs with First Nations

Hudson’s Bay Company This fur trade company was first established at York (Toronto) on the Hudson’s Bay. It controlled much of the fur trade in the English controlled colonies in Canada.

Hudson’s Bay Company It is own of the oldest companies in the world It once was the largest landowner in the world. Rupert’s Land It was started by Radisson and Groseilliers

Northwest Company Was a fur trade company based in Montreal. Went out and got the furs from the First Nations. Eventually merged with the Hudson’s Bay Company.

Impacts of the Fur Trade Establishment of many settlements by French and English Population growth in Canada Learned customs. Fights over land between the Europeans and first Nations Diseases Unfair Trade