Ecological Impact Of Fur Trade On American Culture

During the early years of the Paleo-Indian tribes, they exploited a wide variety of exotic plants and animals. Many of these animals were from the Ice Age. This research paper will discuss what kinds of tools they used for growing crops, hunting big animals like the woolly mammoth and the giant ground sloth and what they used them for besides a source of food.

Aboriginal women had occupied an essential position in the fur trade of the North American region from its birth during the 17th and 18th centuries. Even though this is true, the role of women, especially those of the Native American society, has been ignored a great deal in the entire history of fur trade. Contrary to the belief that the whole fur trade activity was only male-dominated, it very much depended upon Native women and their participation and labor in order to ensure survival as well as economic success. This paper will attempt to illuminate how Native women played the role as important producers when it comes to fur trade of the American Plains and, of course, the Canadian region. This paper will also deal with the two

The fur trade was a significant part of Canadian history. With the founding of the Hudson's Bay and Northwest Company during the1670's, the fur trade managed growth and development all the way into Western Canada until 1870. The fur trade was unique, for it was the only industry that was based on an exchange of goods between two very different groups of people (namely, the Indians and the Europeans). Although most people think of the fur trade as being a male dominated industry, Indian women also played very important roles in the industry's development. However, the women's experiences differed in relation to

Fur trade between the French and Indians began with the exchange of small items the Indians didn’t have, though it became an important trade source for all of Europe, especially by Samuel de Champlain

One extreme change for the Indians was the arrival of Anglo-Europeans. Native peoples’ lives were changed at the blink of an eye while new ideas, practices and beliefs were shown to them. The arrival of the Europeans changed the way the Indians viewed their world and manipulated their resources. This new change could be viewed as positive as well as negative, for while some tribes entered into trade relations with the Anglos, others were used as slave labor and all were subject to disease brought on by the European newcomers. However, despite all the advantages and disadvantages, no other introduction changed the lives of the Indians more than firearms and horses. West outlines one of the most important evolutions for Native life and how it represented a new way to harness resources and gain power. In just a few chapters, we are able to see the great advancements the Indians made in hunting and trade due to these new technologies and how they allowed the Cheyennes to rise to a new purpose as the Called Out People.

The British were interested in the production and circulation of fur as a commodity in the world market and were in need of labor. The Indians were the only available source of skilled labor, so they became part of the production process.

Additionally, Royal gives clarification for Native Americans’ positive stereotypes. He explains, “ But this is far from modern concepts of ecology. Native Americans in fact overhunted deer and beaver even before the arrival of the white man, and did not seriously try to preserve the resources in the vicinity of their villages. As a result, the typical woodland village, having exhausted local soil and game, had to move on average every eight to 10 years” (Royal 47). Although the Native Americans did not destroy the environment like Europeans on such a large scale, they are not trying to protect the environment either. This opposes the stereotypes that Native Americans are model ecologists. Royal also examines the inhumane sides of Native American tribes. Royal reveals, “The

The economic and cultural influences of the 19th century Hudson Bay Company had a significant impact on the diet and food practices of the Northern First Nations Peoples, which impact created a dependency on the government. From this dependency Northern Canada emerged as a welfare state. Prior to European contact, the First Nations exercised regular hunting and gathering practices, relying on game animals as a key meat source. These Peoples, such as the Barren Ground caribou hunters and the Ojibwa fishing villagers, were considered affluent as they had stable food resources which supplied a surplus to their needs (Coates 1989). Resource management strategies, such as hunting multiple species, had been established and were practiced by the hunters to avoid food shortages or scarcities (Coates 1989). Most tribes which based their food supply on a primary large animal – such as the barren ground caribou – would also hunt secondary prey sources, like the beaver (Coates 1989). However, modifications were made to these management strategies as the First Nations responded to the demands created by the open market of the 19th century Hudson Bay Company. The Peoples developed as commercial

British empire was in control of Canada, “a deep and complex transformation.” (Calloway, 112) British empire envision North America with field of action while the French spent the next two decade revenging on their loss with the Seven Years’ War and Treaty of Paris. Even though the French did not succeed in North America, eventually they migrated towards large swaths of Canada, The Great Lakes, and Mississippi Valley using their social systems and culture to survive. “The Interior French”, (Calloway, 123) were French-Canadian who lived beyond the Great Lakes country. They had formed an alliance within the Indians and having a good reputation with dealing goods. Louisiana went to Spain eventually, a few French migrated to Louisiana as a Peace of Paris. More settlers were French in Louisiana during the Spanish era instead of the French. Louisiana changes hand in Paris a couple times in 1763.

The First Nations’ inventions are beneficial for ameliorating Canada’s economic development. Some inventions of the Aboriginals include the canoe and snowshoes. Canoes were constructed out of various trees specifically Birchbark as it was an ideal material for its smooth, light, resilient, and waterproof essential qualities (Marsh, 2006). This was used extensively as a means of fishing, transportation as well as the fur trade. It was also used for providing the ongoing trade between Europeans and

There once were about 250,000 Iroquois before the Europeans came to America. During the time of fur trapping, the French fought with the Huron against the Iroquois. The Iroquois saw that other tribes had European items like axes, knives, hoes and kettles. They wanted these items. The Iroquois replaces their tools of stone, shell, wood and stone with European items made of metal and steel.

Chapter two of Atlantic Canada A History covers the life of Aboriginal people in the Atlantic region from 1500-1860. The aboriginal people needed to be very resourceful; they had to use everything they could from the animals that they killed in order to survive. They used bones, skin, brains and even tendons from moose, caribou, deer and other animals to craft tools and make clothing. Before the Europeans arrived the Aboriginals relied solely on the environment to survive. During the 1500’s when Europeans started to arrive the Mi’kmaq people traded fur with them in exchange for tools and weapons; this tactical advantage allowed the Mi’kmaq to expand their control over other regions.

Thе rеgion is namеd Grеat Basin bеcausе of thе surrounding mountains that crеatе a bowl shapеd landscapе that prеvеnts watеr from flowing out. Although thе mountains tеnd to rеcеivе stеady rain, thе intеrior gеts as littlе as 2 inchеs of moisturе a yеar. Thе kinds of tools Grеat Basin Indians usеd for hunting and gathеring wеrе bows and arrows, stonе knifе, baskеt, nеt and grinding stonе for procеssing sееds. Thеy usеd sharp

"What is man without the beast? If all the beasts were gone, men would die from a great loneliness of spirit. For whatever happens to the beasts, soon happens to man. All things are interconnected. Whatever befalls the earth, befalls the sons of the earth...If men spit upon the ground, they spit upon themselves...Man did not weave the web of life; he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself." (Perry, 1971)

During the 17th century, trading of fur became a major commercial enterprise in North America due to demand for felt hats made from beaver fur. Two French traders named Médard Chouart des Groseilliers and Pierre-Esprit Radisson were the first to propose a trading company. They used the Hudson Bay to gain easier access to the demanded fur resources of the interior of Canada. They tried to gain French support on their terms, but they failed. After this they went to England in 1665 to attempt to gain the support of Prince Rupert, cousin of Charles II. Médard and Pierre-Esprit got an interested Rupert to persuade the king, several merchants and noblemen to back the trading company. In May 1670 they acquired the Royal Charter which granted the lands of the Hudson Bay. The Royal