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2D: Hudson’s Bay Company

2D: Hudson’s Bay Company. We were Caesars, there being nobody to contradict us -Pierre Radisson. Fur Traders. Relationship of Equals. European fur traders want furs (beaver esp.) Native people profit too (tools, pots, beads)

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2D: Hudson’s Bay Company

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  1. 2D: Hudson’s Bay Company We were Caesars, there being nobody to contradict us -Pierre Radisson

  2. Fur Traders

  3. Relationship of Equals • European fur traders want furs (beaver esp.) • Native people profit too (tools, pots, beads) • Interior Native groups collect furs, trade to Natives in contact with Europeans (who also collect furs). • Europeans can benefit from well-established trading routes

  4. Consequences • Aboriginal vs. Aboriginal conflicts (eg. wars between Iroquois and Huron) • European vs. European conflicts (Company of 100 Associates vs. Hudson’s Bay Co.) fight for monopolies. • Co of 100 Associates collapses with fall of New France in 1763, replaced by North West Co. 1783 • NWC vs HBC rivalry benefits Natives • Explore into the west of Canada to get more furs!

  5. Why?

  6. Hats? Really? • Undercoat of beaver fur cut from pelts • Fur matted, beaten, then shellacked (varnished) to make felt • Felt shaped into hats • Why? • They were warm and shed rain • Fashion statement (status symbol)

  7. HBC

  8. Who? • Pierre Radisson and Médart de Groseilliers 1669. • Werecoureurs de bois (French fur traders) • Radisson had been prisoner of Mohawk, knewlanguage and customs. • Groseilliers learnedfrom Huron about untouched lands N. of Lake Superior. • Bothwent and traded w/Cree, proved good furs available. • New France gov’tconfiscated furs, refused to tradearoundHudson’sBay. • Go to London to Charles II and his cousin, Prince Rupert—theywant in.

  9. EconomicImperialism • Charles II (and P.R.) want to dominate N. Americathrough $$. • Send R & G back to HB—whentheybring back gorgeous furs, C II and PR claim all the land drainingintoHudson’sBay. « Rupert’s Land » • Start company (in PR’sname) called“Governor and Company of Adventurers of England Tradeing into Hudson’s Bay” = HBC

  10. Rupert’s Land All land draining into Hudson’s Bay.

  11. Setup • Posts, staffed by Europeans. • Boss of each post called “Factor” (posts called “Factories”) • Natives (Cree, Assiniboin and Chippewa) bring furs to the factory in summer. • Ships arrive from Europe in summer. • Factors largely independent (directors of HBC know nothing about life in Rupert’s Land)

  12. Nonsuch First ship to bring furs from HB to England. On 300th anniversary, of HBC a replica was built as part of the celebration. Now, the replica is in the Museum of Man and Nature in Winnipeg (you can walk on it! Very cool!)

  13. How’d it go? • Aboriginals happy • Cut out middle men • Got decent prices • More convenient • Could refuse to trade good furs if price was bad • European directors happy • Good profit • Excellent quality furs

  14. …con’t • Local Factors and employees not so happy • Factors had some independence • Long hours, much physical labour • HB colder than North Pole (no ocean currents). • Cold weather up to 9 months of year • Temps as low as -63°, snow usually 3-4 m deep • Up to 30 cm of ice INSIDE buildings • Short summer, LOTS of bugs (see p. 262)

  15. What was a Factory Like?

  16. …con’t • Small (about the size of a corner store) • Sold: • items for hunting/trapping (guns, fish-hooks, gunpowder, nets) • everyday items (blankets, pots, kettles, handkerchiefs, shirts, foods) • decorative items (buttons, silver, copper, beads) • Value in MB (prime, adult beaver fur)

  17. Trading Ceremonies • Made a ceremony & party of the summer trade season • Ceremony showed respect for Natives by Factors • Peace Pipe (Plains ceremonial pipe) • Discussion of the year’s events • Factors give uniform, gifts to Native leader • Factors dress up for the ceremony • Natives paraded back to their camp • Huge feast to celebrate opening of trade for the year

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