The Fur Traders

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Hunting

• While natives hunted for food and clothing the number of fur bearing animals remained high.

Fur trade

• The fur trade changed the reason for hunting.

• Many areas the beaver were almost wiped out.

People involved in the fur trade

Native people

• Did most of the trapping

• Men would hunt

• Women prepared the skins

Coureurs de bois• Individuals that bought furs from the natives.

• Often done outside of the law.

• They often lived with the Natives

Coureurs de bois• Etienne Brule was the first.

Voyageurs

• Paddled large birch bark canoes from Montreal to Thunder bay

• Worked for a company

Voyageurs at dawn • They lived most of the summer on the water

trail

• They would take trade goods to Thunder Bay and return with furs

Fort William

• After about seven trips a voyageur may become a guide.

• Might be allowed to eat inside at Fort William

Traders• Bought goods to be traded with the natives.

• Financed the expeditions

Wintering Partners

Company• Held the Monopoly granted by the king.

• Traders had to sell their furs to the company

Company• Shipped furs back to Europe.

Owners had a share of profits.

Hatters• Made the fur into hats

Hatters

Merchants

• Sold the hats to consumers

Results of the fur trade

• At first everyone was better off.Natives got valuable goods for cheap furs.

• Europeans got valuable furs for cheap goods.

Results• Hunting changed.

• Territorial disputes among natives

• Indian nations went to war.Huron and Iroquois

Results• Brandy trade

Good fire water

• Church opposed the brandy trade

The people traded anything they owned for alcohol, which left them destitute and defenceless against winter temperatures.

Results• Chiefs no longer shared and provided for

the group.

• Charged other natives much higher prices for items.

Results

• Many young men ran off to engage in the fur trade for themselves.

• Not farming and would trade with English or Dutch

• Radisson and des Groseilliers

Results

• French explored in search of furs.

• Little settlement and development.

• The English colonies grew.