The Battle of The Battle of the Fur Tradethe Fur Trade

Chapter 4Chapter 4

SS 10SS 10NAULTNAULT

The Battle for the Fur The Battle for the Fur Trade (1800- 1810)Trade (1800- 1810)

In 1800 the competition between In 1800 the competition between HBC and NWC became fierce!HBC and NWC became fierce!

The number of furs was decreasing The number of furs was decreasing because of over huntingbecause of over hunting

Both companies moved deeper inland to Both companies moved deeper inland to gain control of new resourcesgain control of new resources

Battle for the Fur TradeBattle for the Fur Trade

The NWC was especially aggressiveThe NWC was especially aggressive Established new posts in present day British Established new posts in present day British

Columbia and in northern CanadaColumbia and in northern Canada

Both companies opened forts beside Both companies opened forts beside the competition and promised more the competition and promised more valuable goods than their rivalsvaluable goods than their rivals

VS

The NWC and the Metis The NWC and the Metis PeoplePeople

As the NWC continued to move As the NWC continued to move west, the began staying for the west, the began staying for the winter with local groupswinter with local groups

Because they were spending Because they were spending extensive amounts of time with the extensive amounts of time with the First Nations people, a number of First Nations people, a number of fur traders married the daughters fur traders married the daughters of Native familiesof Native families

Both the NWC and the Both the NWC and the Metis supported these Metis supported these

marriagesmarriages

The NWC thought it was a The NWC thought it was a good idea because it good idea because it would form stronger would form stronger

trade relations between trade relations between them and the First them and the First

Nations peopleNations people

The NWC and The Metis The NWC and The Metis PeoplePeople

Wives of fur traders enjoyed an improved Wives of fur traders enjoyed an improved standard of living and their lives were standard of living and their lives were generally easier than most womengenerally easier than most women

By 1800, some 4000 voyaguers were By 1800, some 4000 voyaguers were living in the Northwest and many of them living in the Northwest and many of them had married Native womenhad married Native women

The HBC and the Metis The HBC and the Metis People People

In contrast, to the NWC being supportive In contrast, to the NWC being supportive of these marriages, of these marriages,

HBC employees were HBC employees were FORBIDDENFORBIDDEN to to marry First Nations peoplemarry First Nations people This was because the HBC was concerned This was because the HBC was concerned

about having to support too many about having to support too many dependantsdependants

They tried to enforce a policy of celibacy They tried to enforce a policy of celibacy among it’s employeesamong it’s employees

HOWEVER, IT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL…HOWEVER, IT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL…

The MetisThe Metis

By the early 19By the early 19thth century, a sizable number of century, a sizable number of people living in the Northwest were of people living in the Northwest were of European and Native ancestryEuropean and Native ancestry

A new culture was evolving!A new culture was evolving! They began to think of themselves as their own They began to think of themselves as their own

cultureculture They were originally called bois brule (means They were originally called bois brule (means

“burnt wood”) by 1800, they changed their “burnt wood”) by 1800, they changed their name to Metis (means “mixed”)name to Metis (means “mixed”)

The MetisThe Metis

They usually spoke French or a They usually spoke French or a combination of their Native tongue and combination of their Native tongue and FrenchFrench

They were usually Roman CatholicThey were usually Roman Catholic They developed communities and a They developed communities and a

lifestyle that combined both French and lifestyle that combined both French and Native customsNative customs

The Metis- The Bison The Metis- The Bison HuntHunt

The Metis hunted bison seasonallyThe Metis hunted bison seasonally The hunt took place in the early summer The hunt took place in the early summer

and autumn and had several purposesand autumn and had several purposes fresh meatfresh meat HidesHides Meat and fat made pemmicanMeat and fat made pemmican

What is Pemmican?What is Pemmican?

To make pemmican the Indians began by To make pemmican the Indians began by cutting meat into thin slices or strips and drying cutting meat into thin slices or strips and drying it either in the sun or over a fire. After the meat it either in the sun or over a fire. After the meat was dried, it was spread out on a stone-was dried, it was spread out on a stone-headed mauls and then pounded. This headed mauls and then pounded. This pounded meat was called "beat meat" by the pounded meat was called "beat meat" by the natives. "Beat meat" was then mixed with natives. "Beat meat" was then mixed with melted fat and marrow. Sometimes a paste melted fat and marrow. Sometimes a paste made of fruits or berries were added to this made of fruits or berries were added to this mixture. mixture. 

The Metis- The Metis- The Bison HuntThe Bison Hunt

The hunt was a spectacular event that The hunt was a spectacular event that involved the whole communityinvolved the whole community

They used Red River carts and horses They used Red River carts and horses for the huntfor the hunt

They used guns called muzzle- loaders They used guns called muzzle- loaders The hunt was extremely dangerous- The hunt was extremely dangerous-

death and seriously injury was commondeath and seriously injury was commonStory of Metis vs Sioux fight- pg 142Story of Metis vs Sioux fight- pg 142

THINGS ARE HEATING UP!THINGS ARE HEATING UP!

In 1812, the rivalry between the NWC In 1812, the rivalry between the NWC and the HBC would be pushed to the and the HBC would be pushed to the

point of WARFARE!!point of WARFARE!!

Lord Selkirk Louis Riel

LET’S SEE IF YOU WERE LET’S SEE IF YOU WERE LISTENING…LISTENING…

Name the two fur trading companies.Name the two fur trading companies. Name one trading policy of each.Name one trading policy of each. Explain how each company felt about Explain how each company felt about

employees having relationships with First employees having relationships with First Nations people.Nations people.

Explain the family heritage of a Metis person.Explain the family heritage of a Metis person. What was the original name for the Metis What was the original name for the Metis

people?people? What animal was hunted by the Metis people What animal was hunted by the Metis people

for food, clothing and shelter?for food, clothing and shelter?