The fur trade was an important early economic activity in Canada. Beaver pelts were highly prized for hats in Europe, creating huge demand. The trade began with French explorers in the 1500s and grew significantly in the 1700s. Two French traders, Radisson and Groseilliers, broke from the French system and established the Hudson's Bay Company in 1670, gaining rights to a vast territory called Rupert's Land. This started intense competition between the French and English for control of the lucrative fur trade in Canada.

1. Fur TradeFur Trade
© Ruth Writer© Ruth Writer
Western Michigan UniversityWestern Michigan University

2. Early BeginningsEarly Beginnings
 Cartier—1534 with Miq’macCartier—1534 with Miq’mac
 Brule—1620sBrule—1620s
 By 1700s farming becoming more importantBy 1700s farming becoming more important

3. Parks CanadaParks Canada

4. BeaverBeaver
 Prized peltsPrized pelts
 Guard hair—course outer layerGuard hair—course outer layer
 Under hair—soft, most valuableUnder hair—soft, most valuable
 Worn for winter—THE best [castor de gras]Worn for winter—THE best [castor de gras]
 Easily trapped out—extinct in some areasEasily trapped out—extinct in some areas
 Easily transported once skinnedEasily transported once skinned
 BREATHING GOLD!BREATHING GOLD!
http://www.onekind.org/be_inspired/animals_a_z/beaver/http://www.onekind.org/be_inspired/animals_a_z/beaver/
http://horizons-canadasemergingidentity.weebly.com/the-hbc--beaver-pelt.htmlhttp://horizons-canadasemergingidentity.weebly.com/the-hbc--beaver-pelt.html

5. Economic IssuesEconomic Issues
 Supply—60-400 million from Rio Grande toSupply—60-400 million from Rio Grande to
ArcticArctic 
 10 million in Canada alone10 million in Canada alone
 155 taken in one day155 taken in one day
 5000 in one season5000 in one season
 Demand—fad of hatsDemand—fad of hats 
 Cheap laborCheap labor

6. Beaver Hats in StyleBeaver Hats in Style
Wilson, Keith.Wilson, Keith. Fur Trade in Canada.Fur Trade in Canada. Toronto: Grolier Limited, 1980.; http://www.coincommunity.com/Toronto: Grolier Limited, 1980.; http://www.coincommunity.com/

7. Role of First Nations PeopleRole of First Nations People
 Trappers—capture the beaverTrappers—capture the beaver
 Women’s role—prepare beaver peltWomen’s role—prepare beaver pelt
 First Nation People expected little in tradeFirst Nation People expected little in trade
Trading at Hudson Bay Company--1770Trading at Hudson Bay Company--1770

8. VoyageursVoyageurs
 Legal tradersLegal traders
 Garrison mentalityGarrison mentality
 Small isolated communitiesSmall isolated communities
 Surrounded by frontierSurrounded by frontier
 Surrounded by isolationSurrounded by isolation
 Closely knitClosely knit
 Collective survival not individual excellentsCollective survival not individual excellents

10. Couriers de boisCouriers de bois
 Illegal tradersIllegal traders
 Took First Nation wivesTook First Nation wives
 Both church and seigneurs frowned onBoth church and seigneurs frowned on
lifestylelifestyle
 Became backbone of fur tradeBecame backbone of fur trade

11. Typical Trader’s CabinTypical Trader’s Cabin
Fur Trade Museum at Lachine, QC [next slide, also]Fur Trade Museum at Lachine, QC [next slide, also]

13. Life is a highway—Life is a highway—
so were the riversso were the rivers
 Rivers were the routes westRivers were the routes west
 No real trailsNo real trails
 Portages between rivers and lakesPortages between rivers and lakes
 Paddle at a fast rate—16+ hours a dayPaddle at a fast rate—16+ hours a day

14. Fur Trade Routes to InteriorFur Trade Routes to Interior
Map Adapted by Ruth Writer based on maps from Ferris E. Lewis.Map Adapted by Ruth Writer based on maps from Ferris E. Lewis. My State and Its Story.My State and Its Story. Hillsdale, MI: Hillsdale Educational Publishing, 1969.Hillsdale, MI: Hillsdale Educational Publishing, 1969.

15. French RiverFrench River
 Terrain ruggedTerrain rugged
 Rivers swift in springRivers swift in spring
Photo by Ruth Writer at French River in OntarioPhoto by Ruth Writer at French River in Ontario

16. Canoes Used in TradeCanoes Used in Trade
Kozlak, Chet.Kozlak, Chet. A Great Lakes Fur Trade Coloring BookA Great Lakes Fur Trade Coloring Book. St. Paul: Minnesota Historical Society, 1981.. St. Paul: Minnesota Historical Society, 1981.

17. Frances Anne Hopkins ArtFrances Anne Hopkins Art

18. Montreal—Trade CenterMontreal—Trade Center
 Money to be madeMoney to be made
 Fur trade to westFur trade to west
 Lachine [Thought they were close to CHINA.]Lachine [Thought they were close to CHINA.]
 MercantilismMercantilism
 Major resource for New FranceMajor resource for New France
 Market in Europe—”felt in fashion”Market in Europe—”felt in fashion”
www.thecanadianencyclopedia.cawww.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca

19. Lachine Fur Trade MuseumLachine Fur Trade Museum
<a href="http://www.tripadvisor.ca/LocationPhotoDirectLink-g155032-d592846-i42623501-Lachine_Fur_Trade_Museum-<a href="http://www.tripadvisor.ca/LocationPhotoDirectLink-g155032-d592846-i42623501-Lachine_Fur_Trade_Museum-
Montreal_Quebec.html#42623501"><img alt="" src="http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/02/8a/62/0d/filename-2012-06-14-Montreal_Quebec.html#42623501"><img alt="" src="http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/02/8a/62/0d/filename-2012-06-14-
12.jpg"/></a><br/>This photo of Lachine Fur Trade Museum is courtesy of TripAdvisor12.jpg"/></a><br/>This photo of Lachine Fur Trade Museum is courtesy of TripAdvisor

20. Radisson and GroseilliersRadisson and Groseilliers
mid 1600smid 1600s
 CapitalistsCapitalists
 Broke mercantile systemBroke mercantile system
 NO Brainer for farmersNO Brainer for farmers
 First Nations became savvy, tooFirst Nations became savvy, too
 Returned to Quebec with lots of fursReturned to Quebec with lots of furs
 Found Hurons along western shores of LakeFound Hurons along western shores of Lake
SuperiorSuperior

21. Fateful JourneyFateful Journey
1658-16601658-1660
 West to MinnesotaWest to Minnesota
 Traded with First NationsTraded with First Nations
 Returned to QuebecReturned to Quebec
 60 canoes filled with furs—worth fortune60 canoes filled with furs—worth fortune
 French confiscated furs—illegally obtaineFrench confiscated furs—illegally obtaine
 No permissionNo permission
 NOT GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN!NOT GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN!

22. Hudson Bay Company’s BirthHudson Bay Company’s Birth
16701670
 Hudson Bay system of trade to NorthHudson Bay system of trade to North
 French—longer supply lineFrench—longer supply line
 HBC started by Radisson/GroseilliersHBC started by Radisson/Groseilliers
 Took up 50% of current Canadian territoryTook up 50% of current Canadian territory
 Small posts called factoriesSmall posts called factories
 Operated by factorOperated by factor
 STAY ON THE BAY—factory systemSTAY ON THE BAY—factory system
 Eliminated middle men—direct buyingEliminated middle men—direct buying

23. HBC better dealHBC better deal
 Blankets made of woolBlankets made of wool
 Shorter tripShorter trip
 England had 13 colonies south of New FranceEngland had 13 colonies south of New France
 Competition beganCompetition began
Ad fromAd from The BeaverThe Beaver, 2000; photo of store entrance in Toronto taken by R. Writer, 2000; photo of store entrance in Toronto taken by R. Writer

24. CompetitionCompetition
 Let the games begin!Let the games begin!
 England took over Albany area in 1664England took over Albany area in 1664
 Charles II granted royal charter based onCharles II granted royal charter based on
Hudson’s claimsHudson’s claims
 Charter to HBC in 1670Charter to HBC in 1670
 Rupert’s LandRupert’s Land
 Likely thought covered small area like EnglandLikely thought covered small area like England
 Covered 1 million square milesCovered 1 million square miles
 Got investors at 300 pounds eachGot investors at 300 pounds each

25. www.uwinnipeg.cawww.uwinnipeg.ca

26. Long Live the BAYLong Live the BAY
 HBC richest monopoly in historyHBC richest monopoly in history
 HBC longest running monopoly in historyHBC longest running monopoly in history
 HBC oldest store in historyHBC oldest store in history
 HBC still exists todayHBC still exists today
 Does not still sell fursDoes not still sell furs

27. Michigan’s role?Michigan’s role?
 Illegal trade in Michigan for yearsIllegal trade in Michigan for years
 Michilimackinac became postMichilimackinac became post
 Fort St. Joseph—trading postFort St. Joseph—trading post
 Mackinac Island—John Jacob AstorMackinac Island—John Jacob Astor

29. ResourcesResources
 Eccles, W.J.Eccles, W.J. The Canadian Frontier 1534-1760The Canadian Frontier 1534-1760. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 1969.. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 1969.
 Kozlak, Chet.Kozlak, Chet. A Great Lakes Fur Trade Coloring BookA Great Lakes Fur Trade Coloring Book. St. Paul: Minnesota Historical Society, 1981.. St. Paul: Minnesota Historical Society, 1981.
 Livesey, Robert & Smith, A.G. Discovering Canada: The Fur Traders. Toronto: Stoddart Publishing Co. Limited, 1995.
 McInnis, Edgar. Canada: A Political and Social History. Toronto: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1964. [pages 17-40] Also
found on line at http://www.archive.org/details/canadaapolitical013013mbp
 Newman, Peter C. Empire of the Bay: The Story of the Hudson’s Bay Company. New York: Penguin Books, 2000.
 Nute, Grace Lee. The Voyageur. St. Paul: Minnesota Historical Society, 1987.
 Nute, Grace Lee. The Voyageur’s Highway. St. Paul: Minnesota Historical Society, 1969.