The beginnings of the fur trade in the 1600s europeans formed powerful companies that would dominate the fur trade and create alliances with first nations group for over two centuries. At the time of its publication in 1930, the fur trade in canadachallenged and inspired scholars, historians, and economists. He remarks that it is impossible to understand the developments of the fur trade, or of canadian history, without some knowledge of the beavers life and habits. The north american fur trade was a central part of the early history of contact in the new world north america between europeanamericans and native americans in the united states and first nations in. The fur trade in canada is one of the countrys oldest. Rare paintings, drawings, maps and archival photographs complement her impeccable research and lively text. Conflict between the algonquians and the iroquois increased as they competed for control of the st. As part of fraser commission from the north west company, he moved westwards to explore potential river routes to the pacific ocean. At the time of its publication in 1930, the fur trade in canada challenged and. With canada in english hands, the troubles of the hudsons bay company might have been over. The beginnings of the fur trade first peoples of canada. Throughout much of the nineteenth century the hudsons bay company had a virtual monopoly on the core area of the fur trade in canada.
The fur trade was the original basis for the growth, foundation, and success of canadas beginning. Travelers and traders in the north american fur trade france. The fur trade opening the west first peoples of canada. Morrison has all the basic facts and states them clearly he does say that. Four hundred years following its start, the commercial fur trade continues to utilize a plentiful sustainable canadian resource in a responsible manner and is an important contributor to the canadian economy and ecology. In the early yearsroughly 1500 to 1800the french dominated the trade of animal pelts in exchange for european goods such as rifles, alcohol, cured tobacco, and iron tools. The expo was a great success which elevated our registered trade mark brand in china. Were the first to trade in furs but the british also traded furs. Quality beaver pelts set the value of what things were worth and it seems that most trades were based on this value. The history of the fur trade and the early exploration of canada. Furcanada is proud to support canadas fur trade our booth at the first china international import expo in shanghai november 2018. Hudsons bay company was formed on may 6, 1670, making it the oldest corporation in the world. The fur trade in canada the following timeline gives an overview of the history of the fur trade in canada.
These titles may be used by teachers to introduce topics and themes more in canadian history and by students carrying out research projects. Payne, museums and historic sites, alberta community development, edmonton and c. The fur trade was one of the earliest economic exchanges in north american history. A general history of the fur trade from canada to the northwest. The fur trade began in the 1500s as an exchange between indians and europeans. It is something in your environment that you can use to survive what is an endangered species. Its products were the object of intense competition among merchants on two continents in leipzig, new york, london, winnipeg, st louis, and montreal. Collection, british columbia historical books collection. The settlers then sold many of the furs back to europe. The fur trade in north america began almost as soon as europeans began their explorations of the north american mainland. The algonquianspeaking people became allies of the french, the.
Basic economics of the fur trade the development of the north american fur trade can be attributed to three interrelated economic factors. Due to the system of trading posts, the natives were required to travel great distances to deliver the furs. Finally, there was the depletion of the stock of beaver and other furbearing animals, hunted relentlessly for centuries. A general history of the fur trade from canada to the. Western canadian fur trade sites and the iconography of public memory. Taylor, western canada service centre, parks canada, calgary. Many male reenactors portray the dashing voyageurs and stolid bay men of the british and french fur trade.
The french fur trade empire eventually consisted of a line of forts through much of. This guide will help you find material in vancouver public library on the fur trade in canada. The canadian fur trade in the industrial age heritage. This database of canadian historical fiction and nonfiction books is brought to you by the canadian childrens book centre with historica canada, and funded by the government of canada. The challenge in telling any story about the voyageurs is the fact that they.
History of the fur trade montana trappers association. Fur trade and exploration posted by administrator february 26, 2009 jasper national park competition between the northwest company and the hudsons bay company increased as the h. The fur trading industry played a major role in the development of the united states and canada for more than 300 years. The intensely competitive trade opened the continent. Four hundred years following its start, the commercial fur trade continues to use a plentiful canadian resource in a sustainable and responsible manner and is an important contributor to canada s economy and ecology. China is canadas second largest trading partner in the world. The fur trade determined much of the canada us border. In fact the search for new sources of supply further west, including the region of hudson bay. Beginning in the 17 th century, the fur trade lasted until the mid 19 th century. Millions of foxes and minks are raised yearly on ranches in the united states, canada, and many european countries. Rating is available when the video has been rented. This book is as packed full of names and facts as an almanac. Fur trade and exploration canadian rockies vacations. Jean morrison has written a fascinating and important book, full of drama and colourful historical figures.
Historically the trade stimulated the exploration and colonization of siberia, northern north america, and the south shetland and south sandwich islands. The library of congress generally does not own rights to material in its collections and, therefore, cannot grant or deny permission to publish or otherwise distribute the material. Innis has long been regarded as one of canada s foremost historians, and in the fur trade in canada he presents several histories in. History of the furtrade in canada this text was written by harold a. But more than one white man tried to hide the fact of his cohabiting with an. Superior rendezvousplace encompasses the french predecessors of fort william, native peoples of the time and the evolution of the fur trade, with an emphasis on the north west. The fur trade set the tone for european exploration of north america and established the very foundation of canada. This timeline spans from our countrys earliest inhabitants to the present. The fur trade was one of the earliest and most important industries in north america. The fur trade is a worldwide industry dealing in the acquisition and sale of animal fur. Facts about the fur trade montana trappers association.
James as a trading post for the north west company, opening up a new social and economic core for the furtrade district. This book lets the reader relive the heroic days of the canadian fur trade. The indians traded furs for such goods as tools and weapons. When europeans arrived in the new world fur trade became a large part of european and indigenous interactions. The challenge in telling any story about the voyageurs is the fact that they were. Fort victoria shown here in 1847 started life as a fur trading post. French canadian workers who paddled canoes, transported goods, and staffed the interior posts of the.
Yet the most bitter and bloody fighting of its history lay ahead as new rivals appeared on the scene. Trade in animal skins and pelts had gone on since antiquity, but reached its height in the wilderness of north america from the 17th to the early 19th cent. Both furtrading companies are discussed, but there is a greater focus on the hudsons bay company. This is a brief description of the most significant events in the 250 years during which the fur trade flourished.
Learn by example and become a better writer with kibins suite of essay help services. Being a brief introduction to the role of women in the fur trade, and some suggestions for female reenactors. It was at its peak for nearly 250 years, from the early 17th to the mid19th centuries. The fur trade was a vast commercial enterprise across the wild, forested expanse of what is now canada. When europeans first settled in north america, they traded with native americans. The fur trade was a booming business in north america from the 1500s through the 1800s. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that.
Innis has long been regarded as one of canadas foremost historians, and in the fur trade in canada he presents several histories in. For information about assessing rights, see the rights and restrictions information page. In this book, extensively illustrated with visuals from some of canadas most prominent museums and archives, historian michael payne explores the personalities and events that shaped this powerful business. An engaging new look at this compelling era in canadian history. The north west company and the fur trade 17791821 david a. Harold innis begins the fur trade in canada with a brief chapter on the beaver which became a much desired fur due to the popularity of the beaver hat in european society. The fur trade is part of canada s resourcebased economy and one of canada s oldest and most historically significant industries. The fur trade in canada red lake regional heritage. Since the establishment of a world fur market in the early modern period, furs of boreal, polar and cold temperate mammalian animals have been the most valued. Mistahimaskwa big bear 4th from left, a plains cree chief, trading fur at fort pitt, n. The search for fur drove europes exploration and settlement of north america, and many of todays towns and cities began as fur trading posts. In this book, extensively illustrated with visuals from some of canadas most prominent museums and archives, historian michael payne explores the personalities and events that shaped this an engaging new look at this compelling.
Ranches in afghanistan, russia, and south west africa raise karakul sheep, whose fur is called persian lamb. The canadian fur trade started 400 years ago, although it has been around not only in canada for as long as people have been wearing clothes. It is recognized that on the same area of land over a 100year time period. Regardless of the language used, the fact remains that. The fur trade museum, in lachine, housed in a stone fur warehouse built in 1803 by north west company stockholder alexander gordon, is an excellent place to learn about montreals furtrade history. The fur trade is part of canadas resourcebased economy and one of canadas oldest and most historically significant industries. At the time of its publication in 1930, the fur trade in canada challenged and inspired scholars, historians, and economists.
Two canadian fur companies controlled the fur trade in canada and parts of the united states fur trade until the boundary was set at the 49th parallel in 1846. The above three short books each recount a tradional story of. Now, almost seventy years later, harold inniss fundamental reinterpretation of canadian history continues to exert a magnetic influence. List of books and articles about fur trade and trappers. Canadas fur trade a timeline fur institute of canada. Browse essays about canadian fur trade and find inspiration. In many parts, it reads as if innis compiled his notes and then forgot to organize them or make them readable. The native americans often gave the settlers animal furs in exchange for weapons, metal goods, and other supplies. For the full citation, see the end of the document. A commercial fur trade in north america grew out of the early contact between indians. The fur trade was a major commercial enterprise in canada for nearly 300 years. The fur trade was a very important part of the canadian economy and from the 17th to 19th centuries attracted european mechants and. Furbearing animals were trapped and caught, used for their meats and their pelts for body covering and protection.
It was sustained primarily by the trapping of beavers to satisfy the european demand for felt hats. The skin of an animal with the fur, wool, or hair still on it. Most descriptions of beaver hunting stress the fact that at least two beavers were left in a. The revenant by michael punke, across the wide missouri by bernard devoto, fur, fortune, and empire. An introduction to canadian economic history by innis h a and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. An equally important factor in the decline of fur trade was the advance of settlement, for the trade in wild furs could not flourish on a large scale near farms. Canada and the fur trade history of the canadian fur trade. Wealthy europeans were eager to buy hats made of beaver fur and the supply here was plentiful.
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