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

2. 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!

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

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

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

9. 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

10. 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.

11. 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

12. 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!

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

14. 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

15. 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

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

17. 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)

18. 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)

19. 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?

20. 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.

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

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

23. Red River Settlement
Ms. Dow
Socials 9

24. 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

25. 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…

26. 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.

27. 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…

28. 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!

29. 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 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 

30. 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).

31. 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

32. 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

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

34. 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, 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.

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

36. 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…

37. 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

38. 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!

39. 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

40. The Red River Resistance- 1870

41. 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

42. 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 Rupert’s Land joined the North- Western Territory and the entire area was renamed “The North- West Territories”

43. 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…

44. 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

45. 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

46. 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