The role of the canadian fur trade was to allow the natives to trade fur pelts for goods, with. Fur trade thunder bay museum your place in history. Trade in animal skins and pelts had gone on since antiquity, but reached its height in the wilderness of. As small a change in style as an increase in brim diameter could send ripples through the whole fur trade. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that. An engaging new look at this compelling era in canadian history. Socalled preconfederation history describes the countrys colonization and settlement by european migrants, while post.
Welcome to fur trade stories, a unique presentation of primary and secondary resources found in the collections of canadas national history society, hbca archives of manitoba, the manitoba museum, parks canada and several first nations communities. The fur trade resource helps support students as they continue learning about this time period in canadian history. The editor praises it for emphasizing the role of geography something that i. In this book, extensively illustrated with visuals from some of canadas most prominent museums and archives, historian michael payne explores the personalities and events that shaped this powerful business. It provided the motive for the exploration of much of the country. Louis fur trade, 17521925, a microfilm collection with great relevance to canadian history. Environmentalism invites us to look at the history of the fur trade. Wealthy europeans were eager to buy hats made of beaver fur and the supply here was plentiful. Harold adams innis november 5, 1894 november 8, 1952 was a professor of political. Still, the trapping of fur bearing animals was key to the mountain man era and played a significant role in americas western expansion. The first fur trading post at thunder bay, fort caministigoyan, was established in 1683 by daniel greysolon, sieur dulhut, and another went up in 1717. Why was the fur trade important to the history of canada. Quality beaver pelts set the value of what things were worth and it seems that most trades were based on this value.
Frances anne hopkins, cw jefferys, jd kelly, and arthur heming have painted some of the most famous voyageur and fur trade scenics in canadian history. The importance of fur trade for canadas economic growth. Varied forms of marriage predominated in the interracial furtrade society before canada acquired the northwest territories and began its colonial occupation of the land after 1870. An introduction to canadian economic history, is an in depth look at the canadian fur trade, and an application of staples thesis where regional development is reliant on the characteristics of staple resources and their trade and business organizations. John jacob astor, the man most closely associated with the american fur trade and whose name is a synonym for wealth surpassing imagination, became involved in the business without ever setting a trap. The fur trade set the tone for european exploration of north america and established the very foundation of canada. A richly complex society existed in the canadian west before 1870. The demand for furs was an important factor in the commercial life of all the british and dutch seaboard colonies, as well as of s louisiana, texas, and the far southwest. Indians in the fur trade their roles as trappers, hunters, and. Trade in animal skins and pelts had gone on since antiquity, but reached its height in the wilderness of north america from the 17th to the early 19th cent. About 250 canadian periodicals are received in the periodical reading room, with several hundred more housed in sterlings stacks. The fur trade began in the 1500s as an exchange between indians and europeans. The fur trade was one of the earliest and most important industries in north america.
Now, almost seventy years later, harold inniss fundamental reinterpretation of canadian history continues to exert a magnetic influence. This is a brief description of the most significant events in the 250 years during which the fur trade flourished. What was the importance of the oregon fur trade answers. The fur trade through the eyes of first nations woman, metis woman, and a first nations child. The fur trade is a worldwide industry dealing in the acquisition and sale of animal fur. Ray presents the history of the book and concludes that inniss great book. This guide will help you find material in vancouver public library on the fur trade in canada.
Mistahimaskwa big bear 4th from left, a plains cree chief, trading fur at fort pitt, n. Collection, british columbia historical books collection. Whether in the role of consumer or voter or historical actor, the individual has been promoted as more important to canadian history and public policy than groups or subnations. The red sash is a picture book about the history of the fur trade in canada. The economic history of what is now canada begins with the hunting, farming and trading societies of the indigenous peoples. Significance historically, the fur trade played a singular role in the development of canada. Related to the history of the canadian fur trade, this lesson identifies the furbearing animals commonly hunted and trapped throughout canadian history. This interactions of indigenous peoples and europeans prior to 17 part 4. This resource has received an initial revision for the 2018 ontario social studies curriculum, and will be. Concluding with the virtual extinction of the buffalo in the late 1800s, fur, fortune, and empire is an epic history that brings to vivid life three hundred years of the american experience, conclusively demonstrating that the fur trade played a seminal role in creating the nation we are today.
Aboriginal peoples in canada and native americans in the united states of various regions traded among themselves in the precolumbian era. Since the establishment of a world fur market in the early modern period, furs of boreal, polar and cold temperate mammalian animals have been the most valued. The trade remained the economic foundation of western canada until about 1870. Written by harold innis in the 1930s, this book is still widely considered an important read on the nitty gritty of the fur trade in early canadian history. In 1989 canada joined the organization of american states and signed a free trade agreement with the. Ray presents the history of the book and concludes that inniss great book remains essential. The north american fur trade was an industry and activity related to the acquisition, trade, exchange, and sale of animal furs in north america.
The fur trade in canada an introduction to canadian economic. The rise of the fur trade in the colonial context is a story of both supply and demand. The book begins by explaining the overshadowing importance of the. From both an historic and contemporary perspective, students inves. Economic history of canada the canadian encyclopedia. The key date in canadian history is july 1, 1867 also known as confederation day in which canada adopted its current constitution and thus, in the minds of most canadians, officially became a country. Your goal will be to create and perform a dramatic presentation to share your perspective of the social and economic impact of the fur trade through. Harold inniss classic study the fur trade in canada 1930 draws sweeping. Canadian history home yale university library research. The fur trade cafe historica canada education portal. The indians traded furs for such goods as tools and weapons.
What is the importance of hudsons bay company in canadas. We did this screencast for our social studies curriculm class at the university of alberta. The canadian fur trade, which grew out of the fishing industry, began as a small business, but would expand and become not only the exploiter of a primary canadian resource, but the industry around which the country of canada itself developed. List of books and articles about fur trade and trappers. Indians in the fur tradefirst published in 1974, this bestselling book was lauded by choice as an important, groundbreaking study of the assiniboine and wes. This database of canadian historical fiction and nonfiction books is brought to you by the canadian childrens book centre with historica canada, and funded by the government of canada. The mountain manindian fur trade site is concerned with the history of the fur trade. As important as the fur trade was to native americans in the subarctic regions of canada, commerce with the europeans comprised just one, relatively small, part of their overall economy. They did not displace any natives in the establishment of their settlement and continued to work closely with them in the fur trade. The library has also acquired the papers of the st. Following the arrival of europeans in the 16th century, the economy has undergone a series of seismic shifts, marked by the early atlantic fishery, the transcontinental fur trade, then rapid urbanization, industrialization and technological change. Your group has been transported back though time to the period of the fur trade in canada prior to confederation. Harold innis begins the fur trade in canada with a brief chapter on the beaver which became a much desired fur due to the popularity of the beaver hat in european society. Countless generations of canadian school children got their sense of history from seeing their images reproduced in text and picture books.
The importance of fur trade for canadas economic growth pages 4. Exact figures are not available, but the traditional sectors. To the indians, iron and iron manufactures were of prime importance. First nations, french, english, scots, jews, greeks and many others have worked together for hundreds of years to build this remarkable industry a dynamic tradition of competition and cooperation that is well worth remembering as we celebrate these important anniversaries in the history of montreal and canada. Political history appears in inniss examination of the nature of french british. These titles may be used by teachers to introduce topics and themes more in canadian history and by students carrying out research projects. The fur trade museum, in lachine, housed in a stone fur warehouse built in 1803 by north west company stockholder alexander gordon, is an excellent place to learn about montreals furtrade history. To put things in perspective, until around the time of the us civil war the hbc own. Effects of the american fur trade on american western expansion. For several hundred years, the hbc controlled more land, had more employees, was richer, and was more politically connected than the colonies which made up canada. Historically the trade stimulated the exploration and colonization of siberia, northern north america, and the south shetland and south sandwich islands. The fur trading industry played a major role in the development of the united states and canada for more than 300 years. The history of the fur trade and the early exploration of canada. Material on this subject can be found throughout the central library 350 west georgia street.
The french and native american relations ancestral findings. At the time of its publication in 1930, the fur trade in canada challenged and inspired scholars, historians, and economists. He remarks that it is impossible to understand the developments of the fur trade, or of canadian history, without some knowledge of the beavers life and habits. Europeans participated in the trade from the time of their arrival in the new world, extending the trades. An introduction to canadian economic history harold. Canada s fur trade history reflects the countrys cultural mosaic at its best. The fur trade was a very important part of the canadian economy and from the 17th to 19th centuries attracted european mechants and settlers to canada. Croix river, on the present boundary between the united states and canada.
The fur trade was important because it was an easy way for people to trade things and get something they needed to survive asked in history of canada where did the fur trade take place. The fur trade was the original basis for the growth, foundation, and success of canadas beginning. The fur trade in canadaat the time of its publication in 1930, the fur trade in canada. A history of the fur trade is complementary to a history of the recent industrial growth of canada. History of the fur trade montana trappers association.
The fur trade in north america began almost as soon as europeans began their explorations of the north american mainland. The germanborn immigrant to the united states, who rose from obscurity to build a financial empire, typifies the great american success story. The french began to stay yearround in the early 1600s, establishing their first permanent settlement at quebec in 1608, one year after the english founded jamestown in virginia. The students will then play the fur trade game like an easter egg hunt where they collect furs to trade for items from a trading post.
356 1634 338 314 361 1272 309 891 447 970 1047 552 1180 768 530 300 260 1284 127 526 941 1525 1009 623 1054 1250 707 205 430 286 1386 957 632 138 635 942 987