1. The Fur Trade

2.  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

3. 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

5. 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

6. 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