The experience of the Firs Nation’s during the fur trade would have been a new and novel situation for all First Nation’s. York and Hudson Bay Company led a competition between anyone living in Canada at the time but it became very competitive for the First Nation tribes. There was increasing fur and goods in 1730, but shortly after there was a sharp decline in goods until 1750 because of the competition was so hard. Indian tribes competed with one another for control of the trading posts. Problem was, there was a distance between the tribes that made trading more difficult, the Mountain Indians travelled 37 days downstream and took months to return. Assiniboine and Cree bands were taking over control of their inland trading of York factory …show more content…
The York factory actually used a unit called a MD (made beaver) which was a prime pelt of beaver, and they sued that measuring unit as a way trading with the First Nation’s. For example, a cotton blanket was the same unit equivalent to a MD, thus a FN could trade a MD for a blanket, and vice versa. York factory had to adjust its inflations for the Indians as well because the European assumed that the First Nation’s couldn’t understand the ideas of “surplus” or “inflation”, so they begin adjusting prices and short changing the First Nation’s. The First Nation’s noticed this, and began compromising with goods; First Nation’s tribes also didn’t need very much from the trading posts, requiring only 70 MB per year for basic necessities. The short-changing of the First Nation’s forced them into bargaining within their own terms of reference, so when the time arose, they were able to bargain effectively with other tribes. Another aspect of trading was the gift-giving to the First Nation’s that happened before trading days, and had this not occurred, no trading would have happened. The Europeans also gave gifts to other tribes that weren’t trading with them at the time, to encourage them to
Big question - The fur trading ended when the prices went up and Many Native communities were plunged into long-term poverty and consequently lost much of the political influence they once had. Why did they stop fur trading? - Fur trading stopped because of the collapse in the prices company. This happened because of the high poverty and consequently which made them lose most of the political influence they once had. How did fur trading end?
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.
Over time, the power that Native women held with in their tribe has unfortunately digressed. During the age of exploration Native women have played key roles in the western fur trade. Native women assisted the fur traders by being liaison between the Europeans and Natives. This role was fundamental in strengthening trade increasing the economic stability of the post. They acted as guides for the European traders who often found themselves in dangerous and unfamiliar territory. Finally, they provided an intimate relationship for the European traders, and played a pragmatic role as a domesticated wife. However in order to fully understand the magnitude of the
In 1608, a man by the name of Samuel de Champlain established the first permanent settlement for France called Quebec. Samuel de Champlain was also known as the “Father of New France”. French settlers were quite friendly to the American Indians known as the Huron Indian tribes located near the great lakes. They created an alliance with these native Indians, as the French settlers exchanged items such as gun power and other weapons to help the Indian fight in return they gave back fur. French didn’t do this because they like or wanted to help the Indians. They did this for the fur since the Indians knew where the beavers were at and how to get fur. This was known as French mercantilism to get more back then you are giving out. Independent trades called coureurs de bois or known as “runners of the woods” were paid to exchange weapons for fur. The bond between the French and the Huron Indian grew that soon French settler married Indian women. In 1640’s there was a series of conflicts with the Iroquois known as the Beaver War. The fur was so essential to the France since it was so valuable and lightweight. Fur was used in items such as hats, boot, furniture, etc. The fur was shown as luxury and warmth toward the European
Images of rough faced, Grizzly Bear fighting, firewater drinking, yarn spinning, frontiersmen form in the minds eye. Wild men for wild times! To a degree this image is true, but the fur trade was more than wild men. The fur trade was a business, conducted by businessmen. The wilder men living on the frontier chose trapping. Fashion created the fur trade as businessmen sought to satisfy the tastes of designers and customers back east and in Europe, where furs and hides were necessities for fashionable clothing and accessories. Fashions also affected the Indians who sought, silver, vermillion, glass beads, and clothe from traders. Each group depended on the other to supply the resources.
While not taking care of their land the other job the males of the Iroquois had was warfare and even in battle with their enemies having superiors numbers over the Iroquois they were still able to defeat many opponents. The Dutch were given some credit for the Iroquois success when they provide them with weapons, but the Iroquois overall success lay in their ability to maintain unity and a far more superior organization than any of their enemies. While militarily they formed a great force to reckon with, it was their political system that made them even more a force in the early years of colonial history. This system allowed for them to form a unified front against the new European threat that was arriving in their lands. The Fur trade in North America began with the earliest contacts between the Iroquois and Europeans. Within a few years the Iroquois and the Dutch and others were bartering their goods with each other throughout the Mohawk Valley. In Europe there was a market for the furs and endless supply in North America to fulfill this need. In time the Iroquois became so dependent on these traders that they eventually gave up more and more of their own
The Anishinabe of Parry Island, the Wasauksing, are an amalgam of families from the Ojibwe, Odawa and Potawatomi (from Michigan) nations. Some joining of Anishinabe nations occurred from the 1600s compelled firstly by the fur trade and later as treaties were signed in the mid to late 1800s. The fur trade was quite lucrative for them. A large beaver pelt in good condition and from a winter kill could sell for 5 Livres in 1740 or about 4 weeks pay for non-skilled labourer or 2 weeks pay for an artisan.
A historical event that occurred in the Pacific Northwest region was the start of trading between Native Americans from the Pacific Northwest and Europeans. This was an important event because Non-Native Americans were driven to the region because of the idea of making money. This lead to settlements and trading posts throughout the region.The social structure of tribes in this region was also affected by trade. The website http://www.washington.edu/uwired/outreach/cspn/Website/Classroom%20Materials/Curriculum%20Packets/Indians%20&%20Europeans/II.html says, “In return the Europeans sought furs, and it became relatively simple for powerful Native leaders to take control of the acquisition, preperation, and trade of furs within a given area.
Neutrality was seen as a tool that was meant to be used to further Iroquois trade and protect their lands. A fundamental part of Haudenosaunee and European relations was the trade, especially of beaver pelts. In the early 16th century, the Confederacy sought to expand northward and establish trade relations with their Ottawa neighbors and into Montreal. This expanding a tremendous amount of pushback from the French while also upsetting British officials, particularly those in Albany.
This new trading company was primarily made up of French Canadians and its creation was a direct threat to the Hudson's Bay Company, which held an absolute monopoly on the fur trade. In the middle of this conflict were the Metis, who held important positions as traders, labourers and clerks within both trading companies. By the end of the 18th century, many Metis people had begun to congregate around the trading posts at Red River . Many of the clerks working for either trading company were Metis and so the conflict grew in significance. Eventually the harsh methods of the Hudson's Bay Company caused the Metis to become disillusioned and so many joined with the Northwest Company.
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.
The fur trading industry played a major role in the development of the United States and Canada for more than 300 years. The fur trade began in the 1500's as an exchange between Indians and Europeans. The Indians traded furs for such goods as tools and weapons. Beaver fur, which was used in Europe to make felt hats, became the most valuable of these furs. The fur trade prospered until the mid-1800, when fur-bearing animals became scarce and silk hats became more popular than felt hats made with beaver. Traders and trappers explored much of North America in search of fur. They built trading posts in the wilderness, and settlements grew up around many of these posts. Some of these settlements later became such major cities as Detroit, New Orleans, and St. Louis in the United States; and Edmonton, Montreal, Quebec, and Winnipeg in Canada.
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
The idea that First Nations (here on referred to as FN) in North America always lived in harmony with the environment has been a very controversial and touchy subject when under debate by historians. The language barrier and lack of written information leaves a lot to speculation and the chance of oral history being slightly changed over time leaves biases in the works of historians. This paper, however will argue the concept that FN indeed lived in harmony with nature as they were able to learn from their mistakes and treated the environment and nature with respect to ensure that the coming years would guarantee a plentiful harvest and would protect the lakes, river and nature around them. The FN had been able to realize the effects of