1. The Fur Trade in Canada “We were Caesers, being no one to contradict us…” -Pierre-Esprit Radisso -Translation: “We were the kings and our kingdom was the wilderness…”

2. Hudson’s Bay Company - The Flag of the Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC) - Founded in 1670 by King Charles II

4. Fort Vancouver established by the Hudson Bay Company

5. The Mighty York Boat

6. HBC Main Points: British company founded 1670 by a Royal Charter signed by King Charles II “Stay at the Bay” policy with Native trappers coming to them with furs Very Hierarchical (like the military, rank was very important) Controlled and traded in an area roughly 1/3 the size of modern Canada. All employees made a salary (no sharing in profits or losses) Main fort was York Factory

7. Map of Rupert’s Land

8. The Fight is On!!! Challenge to the HBC domination of the fur trade in Canada. Enter the North West Company

11. The North West Company 1783 several companies trading furs merged into the North West Company Although owned by English Canadians, French traders were employed. Workers shared in the profits or losses of the company. Origin of Métis (French & First Nation). Based in Montreal and traded throughout the North West.

12. The NWC Canoes Fur Trade

13. North West Company Much less hierarchical or “top-down” than the HBC. The “Montreal partners” stayed in Montreal and traded the furs to London The “wintering partners” stayed in the North West and did the actual trading and trapping. They were partners, not employees and thus shared in the profits the NWC made.

14. 1820 Trading Coin

17. Map of NWC Trading Area

19. EXPLORERS

20. Captain James Cook -Born in England - Explored New Zealand, Australia, Hawaii and the west Coast of North America (Vancouver Island) - Was killed in Hawaii

21. Captain George Vancouver -Born in England -Captain in the British Navy -Explored and mapped a lot of the Pacific West Coast (British Columbia, Alaska, Oregon & Washington State)

22. Alexander Mackenzie -Born in Scotland -Family moved to America, but then moved to Montreal during the American Revolution - Completed the first transcontinental crossing of North America when he made it to the Pacific Ocean for the North West Company

23. Simon Fraser -Born in America -Father died in the American Revolution -Raised in Quebec -Worked in the North West Company - Explored much of BC

24. David Thompson -Born in England -He mapped around 2 million square km of western North America - He worked for both the Hudson Bay and the North West Company -Was an English Canadian fur trader, map maker and explorer - Married to a Cree wife for 58 years and had 13 kids