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

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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

5. 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.

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

7. 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.

8. 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.

13. 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 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.

14. 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 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.