The Beginning of the Fur Trade
Socials 9

Arrival of European
 Europeans began hunting and farming in land that was once used only by the First
Nations.
 They were having their land taken by them, and this was being done without permission.

European Impact on the Natives
 Europeans brought diseases to the First Nations.
 Measles
 Influenza
 Pertussis (whooping cough)
 Chickenpox
 The First Nations peoples had never been exposed to such illness (lacked immunity) and as a result many First Nation people died.

Popularity of Furs
 Fancy furs from
Canada became
very popular back in Europe.
 Wolf, lynx, beaver

The Role of First Nations
 First Nations peoples would bring in furs
 Often they would trade the furs for items that were worth a a lot less than the value of the furs.
 Hatchets, pots, beads, knives
 Supplemented income from fishing and hunting

Port Royal
 Samuel de Champlain
 Established 1605
 Company of Good Cheer
 cooking club
 Acadia
 Port Royal eventually led to the creation of
Acadia

Quebec City
 Samuel de Champlain
 Established 1608
 Fur trade alliances
 Algonkians, Montagnais ally with the
French
 Don’t trade furs with the English

The Huron
 Economy based on farming
 Allied with Champlain against Iroquois
 Pre-existing uneasy relationship with
Algonkians and Montagnais (also
Champlain allies)
 By 1616 the Huron supplied a major source of furs for the French

Learning the Fur Trade
 The Fur Trade was a very big business.
 Soon, Europeans learned how to trap furs from the First Nation people
 Trading Posts were built throughout
Canada

Coureurs de Bois
 Young Male Fur Traders
 Who did not work for a specific company
 Travelled inland to find furs at the source
 Bribed officials to turn a blind eye
 Explorers
 Searched for the Northwest Passage

Two Fur Trade Companies
 Hudson’s Bay Company
 English Royal Charter
 1670
 North West Trading Company
 Began as 16 fur traders in Montreal
 French
 1779