Current Events
Blood Diamonds
 Blood diamonds vs. the fur trade
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtPX2kXh
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Fur Trade
Pro Pelle Cutem???
 The HBC motto is "pro pelle cutem," which may
have a clever double meaning. One interpetation
is that it means they wanted the skin, cutem, for
the sake of the fleece, pro pelle. The other is that
it means "for the pelts which we collect, we risk
our skins." They believed they were taking a risk
with their money by going into the business. For
the traders in Canada, the risk could even more
real: weather, accidents, animals, or hostile
traders could kill them!
 Founded in 1670
by explorers
Pierre- Esprit
Radisson and
Medard Des
Groseillers who
convinced the
king of England
Charless II to
dive into the fur
trade
So What??
 With the King of England involved the HBC
could be given exclusive trading rights.
 Charles II created a royal charter which gave
the company exclusive trading rights to all
lands that that had rivers which flowed into
Hudson Bay.
 On the
 The HBC would control the fur trade in
Rupert’s land for 200 years.
Stay By the Bay
 HBC company was
famous for its “stay by
the bay” policy.
 What did that mean??
 They would set up
trading posts at the
mouths of rivers and by
Hudson Bay for
trappers to come to
What Were the Trading Rules??
 Beaver was the most
sought/ wanted animal
skin.
 The HBC rarely
bargained and did not
promote marrying
locals.
Final Details
 The HBC company was based in London,
England and owned by share British share
holders
North West Company
 Established themselves
in New France during
the mid 1700’s
 Many First Nations
preferred trading with
them because they
were closer than
Hudson Bay.
 English conquered
New France in 1763 and
English merchants
took over the NWC.
 Centered control of the
company in Montreal
Who Ran the NWC??
 French and Scottish men controlled the NWC
through a strict family structure.
 Initially everyone in the company had to be
related!
 Why??
 This was done to ensure that no one would
steal from the company and that everyone
would work hard!
What Did This Policy Mean?
 The NWC actively promoted marrying First
Nation women to create trade alliances and
build the company.
Did These Companies Clash?
 Of course!
 Many stories of HBC and NWC employees
having brawls and bar fights.
Think Pair Share
 Turn to page 128 for comparison activity.
 Examine the table and Map
 What do you think made each company
successful? Share your ideas with a partner
Homework
 Read page 129 and the section on Getting
Around the Northwest.
 Next day have the following questions
answered.
 How did geography effect transportation
during the fur trade?
 How is a study of Thompson, and his maps,
and his journals useful to us today?