Impact and Legacy of Fur Trade in Canada

Question: Discuss about the Impact and Legacy of Fur Trade in Canada. Answer: Introduction Canada was mainly the land of the aboriginal people. The history of Canada is occupied with the racial discrimination and suppression of the aboriginal culture, traditions and values. Some of the historical events weakened the life and identity of Aboriginal people. Canada is now known for the great variety of culture, ethnicity, religions and races. Canada is the place with cultural diversity and the great history of Fur trade. According to the some scholars,, Fur trade was started in North America in 1530s. Fur trade played the main role in forming contact between the Europeans and native North Americans or the people from Canada. The people in North America lived the hunter-gatherer lifestyle and played a significant role in initiation of the fur trade in Canada. This paper will discuss the legacy and impact of Fur Trade in Canada. History of Fur Trade The people in North America were mainly called as the aboriginal people or Indians. The economy of Canada could not be considered as the capitalist economy in the ancient time. Aboriginal people, who acquired the Northern part of America, lived a simple life and were mainly dependent on hunting for their food. Other than hunting, people were dependent on seasonal grains and food resources. The foremost historians of Canada consider Fur Trade in Canada as the change that brought significant changes in the social, political and economic history of Canada (Innis, 1999). The social change was brought by the cultural exchange that took place among the Europeans and native aboriginal people. The economic changes and the economic history is associated with the development of the West by the European colonization. The political history is associated with American Revolution (Innis, 1999). The contact of the Indians with the Europeans played a significant role in the development of the Fur trade. The first contact was established at the banks of St. Lawrence River for the fishing industry. It was a long voyage from Europe to America in small sailing boats and large crews (Carlos, Lewis, 2012). Thus, Europeans found that trading in commodity can be very beneficial that can also bring immediate returns. The first best commodity was the Codfish, which was available in large quantity and also had a ready market in Europe (Innis, 1999). The native people of North America were mainly dependent on hunting for food as well as for clothing. The early exchange or the trade with Europeans initiated with the exchange of the fur of small animals like mink and beaver in exchange of knives and other metal based products. The Europeans were attracted towards the well worn pelt of the natives. Some of the earlier demands were for the pelt of beaver, sea otter and occasionally the bear, deer and skunk. In the 16th century wearing a beaver hat came into fashion and this increased the demand of the fur. This brought the revolutionary change in the fur trade industry. The part of America from where the trading was done was also called as the New Found Land and this land has many things that grabbed the attention of Europeans (Carlos, Lewis, 2012). The high quality pelts were only available in the season of winters, because the coat was thick. Such coat could only be received from the place where winters are very severe. So, the fur trade predominantly started from the region, which is now known as Canada. Thus, the credit of current position of Canada could also be given to its geographical location that promoted fur trade (Andersen, 2008). The early Europeans and traders recognized that there is abundance of fur bearing animals in North America and thus, their lust for more profit increased. The native people had the skills to trap the animals and collect fur from the, Thus, they used to collect fur in winters and kept them until the Europeans came in the season of spring (Dolin, 2011). Impact of Fur Trade in Canada The dependence of the natives on the fur trade increased over time. They were dependent on fur trade to receive European food, arms and ammunition. They had no time to hunt for their own food, as they were mainly hunting for the purpose of collecting fur. This in turn changed the economy of Canada. The economy, which was earlier dependent on the shared food, they now had the new economic system. This system was based on the individual profit gained through fur trade (Carlos Lewis, 2008). With the increase in the demand of the beaver fur, this was fur was started to be exported through agents in French, Dutch and English colonies. Fur trade became one of the most significant economic ventures for Canada. Fur trade became the primary source of income for the North Americans and economy of Canada changed. The impact of fur trade was also seen in the social changes that were taking place. The French people, who came for trade in the native lands, took the native wives and a mixed breed was evolved (Metis people) (Andersen, 2008);(Rude Deiter, 2004). Also in the need of more fur, the communal hunting grounds were divided and the beginning of the territorial ownership started in native Indian communities (Carlos Lewis, 2008). With the fur trade the number of animals also declined. Earlier native people only hunted for food, but now they were hunting to get more and more fur. This is because more fur will bring more money. Thus, the population of beaver was decimated. Another major change brought by the fur trade was the entrance of black robes in Canada (Dewar, 2012). These were the Catholic missionaries, which were mainly Jesuits, who came to change the religion of the native people and thus, Christianity was introduced. Many new diseases and the use of alcohol were introduced in the native communities through European people, which significantly demoralized the native cultural values (Pomfret, 2013). However, by the 1800s the changing fashion trends in Europe, collapsed the fur trade and brought great reduction in the fur prices. The fur companies, which were established, had failed to continue their progress. The native people and native communities had been lead towards poverty and they also lost thei r political influence, which they once had (Krech III, 2008). In the modern time also the fur industry went through great depression by the recession of the year 2008. The recession brought downfall in the rate of expensive fur coats and hats. Conclusion Fur trade in Canada brought significant cultural, social and economical changes in the Canada. Canada was the part of North America. The land was acquired by the native aboriginal population, also called as Indians. Aboriginal people were mainly dependent on hunting and seasonal grains for their food. When Europeans came to North America they started the exchange of guns, metal and iron products in exchange of fur. The market of fur was very high in Europe. The traditional and social structure of the native communities was enhanced. But, introduction of the guns in North America increased the power struggle among the chiefs. Some of the other negative impacts of fur trade were that many diseases were introduced in the native communities, which significantly brought great decline in the native population. Outbreak of many diseases can be traced through the route of fur trading. The communities were divided and struggle among people increased. The racial discrimination towards aborigin al people also increased. Fur trade brought many challenging changes in Canada. However, the major positive change was brought in the position of women and their entrance in the jobs. References Andersen, C. (2008). From nation to population: the racialisation of Mtis in the Canadian census.Nations and Nationalism,14(2), 347-368. Carlos, A. M., Lewis, F. D. (2012). Exchange among Native Americans and Europeans before 1800 Strategies and Interactions. Carlos, A., Lewis, F. (2008). The Economic History of the Fur Trade: 1670 to 1870.EH. Net Encyclopedia, Robert Whaples ed. March,16. Dewar, D. P. (2012). Fur, Fortune, and Empire: The Epic History of the Fur Trade in America (review).Journal of World History,23(3), 699-702. Dolin, E. J. (2011). Fur, Fortune, and Empire: The Epic History of the Fur Trade in America (review).Register of the Kentucky Historical Society,109(1), 81-83. Innis, H. A. 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