2.  Essential Question How did the Fur Trade, European settlement, and the rise of the Metis Nation transform the life for the peoples of the Northwest?

6. SIDENOTE: North America 16 beaver pelts = 1 musket Britain 1 beaver pelt = 16 muskets

7.  Two Fur Trade Giants The Hudson’s Bay Company The Northwest Company

8.   In 1668, businessmen from England (supported by the influence of Prince Rupert) financed a voyage to North America  Attempting to find a more efficient trading route through the north of Canada  St. Lawrence route was long and convoluted  Two ships: “The Eaglet” and “The Nonsuch” Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC)

9.   Only “The Nonsuch” arrived in Canada (the other ship turned back due to weather damage)  Crew landed in James Bay  Found rich fur trade opportunities with the Cree traders in the area Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC)

10. SIDE NOTE: The only life-size replica of “The Nonsuch” can be found in the Manitoba Museum.

11.   Returning to England with all of the furs, the businessmen asked the King for a trading monopoly  Sole trading rights to the land that drains into Hudson’s Bay  1670, HBC is officially born Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC)

12.   Trading posts on the coast:  Cree trading partners trap furs and bring them to trading posts  HBC didn’t have to pay extra to send traders inland  Ships could travel quickly back to England through Hudson’s Bay (faster than the old St. Lawrence route) Advantages for HBC

13.   Founded in the 1779  A united group of British, Scottish, American, and French from the St. Lawrence region  Based in Montreal  Used St. Lawrence route to transport furs to England  Used in-land traders known as Nor’Westers or Voyageurs The Northwest Company (NWC)

14.   Attempt to compete with success of HBC  Between 1790 and 1791, NWC founders attempted to challenge the HBC fur-trade monopoly of Rupert’s Land  British government refused to do so  Each company had enforced boundaries where they were allowed to trap and trade The Northwest Company (NWC)

15.   Access to all of the inland areas not used by HBC  Vast amounts of territory  Exploited new fur sources in the West that had not been discovered by HBC Advantages for NWC

16.   Paying inland traders is more expensive (traders must travel for weeks at a time, need more supplies)  Voyageurs must bring furs all the way back to Montreal  St. Lawrence route back to England is slower and more convoluted than Hudson’s Bay route Disadvantages for NWC

19.   Attempts to move into each others territory  Burn each other’s boats and forts  Bribe the other company’s traders  Attempt to give better rates to the First Nations groups to win over their service HBC vs NWC: Fierce Rivalry

20.   Competition between the companies for furs and territory led to the European exploration of Canada West  Fur trade relationships formed the basis for many of the Aboriginal-European relationships at the time  Voyageurs lived among the Aboriginal cultures, eventually leading to the rise of the Metis culture  Combination of European and First Nations traditions Some Impacts of the Fur Trade

21. The Hudson’s Bay Company aka “The Bay” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apG- 411fsVc