
Fur Trade Grade 5 Social
What is the Fur Trade? • The fur trade was started when the first Europeans came to Canada. • Both the First Nations and Europeans had something that other did not have.
What is the Fur Trade • The first trade was probably a knife, pot or blanket for a beaver fur. • Trading took place because there was not any money back in that time.
How did the Fur Trade work? • Both the Europeans and First Nations both had goods that the other wanted. • The First Nations had furs and food that the Europeans needed to survive and wanted to have.
How did the Fur Trade work? The Europeans had goods like a pots, knives, muskets, blankets, coats, etc. They would meet and discuss what each item could be traded for.
Typical Trades • A beaver fur could be traded for a blanket • A wolf fur could be traded for a musket • A rabbit fur could have been traded for a knife.
What started the Fur Trade? • People over in Europe all wanted the furs from the new world • The most popular item was the beaver hat. • Everyone wanted a beaver hat, so that caused more people to go over to the new world to get beaver fur.
Fur Trade Posts • As the settlements grew, posts were established all around the new world. • The Fur Trade posts were a place were people could go and trade their furs.
Fur Trade Posts • These posts were built near water. • They were surrounded by a wall. • The post master had ….
Role of First Nations • The first nations trapped the animals for their fur. • They traded with the Europeans for goods. • They also hunted food and traded it. • Some tribes built their homes around forts.
Coureur des Bois • It means “runner of the wood” • These were Europeans who learned how to hunt and trap like the First Nations. • They lived like the First Nations.
Coureur des Bois • They went out and traded with the First Nations. They were independent. • They did not have permission of the French government. • They later became the Voyageurs.
Etienne Brule • He was sent by Champlain to live with the Huron in 1610. • He learned their customs and way of life • He was the first Coureur des Bois. • He helped as a interpreter, explorer, and with the fur trade.
Voyageurs • They were licensed, second generation coureur des bois. • They worked for fur trade companies. • They transported goods to the various posts around Canada.
Voyageurs • They were strong men, who traveled by canoe. • They were known for their red sashes. They also went and traded furs with First Nations
Hudson’s Bay Company • This fur trade company was first established at York (Toronto) on the Hudson’s Bay. • It controlled much of the fur trade in the English controlled colonies in Canada.
Hudson’s Bay Company • It is own of the oldest companies in the world • It once was the largest landowner in the world. Rupert’s Land • It was started by Radisson and Groseilliers
Northwest Company • Was a fur trade company based in Montreal. • Went out and got the furs from the First Nations. • Eventually merged with the Hudson’s Bay Company.
Impacts of the Fur Trade • Establishment of many settlements by French and English • Population growth in Canada • Learned customs. • Fights over land between the Europeans and first Nations • Diseases • Unfair Trade