Exploring Exploring MinnesotaMinnesota

Chapter 5: The Fur TradeChapter 5: The Fur Trade

IntroductionIntroduction

See Oral Tradition on page 57 & 58.See Oral Tradition on page 57 & 58.

Two Worlds MeetTwo Worlds Meet

The North American fur trade began The North American fur trade began in the early 1600s when French in the early 1600s when French explorers first encountered Indians explorers first encountered Indians along the St. Lawrence River in along the St. Lawrence River in eastern Canada.eastern Canada.

Furs were traded for blankets, Furs were traded for blankets, jewelry, and metal goods.jewelry, and metal goods.

Two Worlds continuedTwo Worlds continued

Soon others arrived along with Soon others arrived along with missionaries looking to convert the missionaries looking to convert the Indians to Christianity. Indians to Christianity.

Before long the fur trade was the Before long the fur trade was the biggest industry that North America biggest industry that North America had ever seen to date.had ever seen to date.

Two Worlds continuedTwo Worlds continued

By the 1700s traders from France, By the 1700s traders from France, Great Britain, and Holland began to Great Britain, and Holland began to arrive and found settlements, giving arrive and found settlements, giving them European names.them European names.

Quebec, MontrealQuebec, Montreal

Also see “European Explorers and Also see “European Explorers and missionaries.”missionaries.”

I want, you wantI want, you want

Europeans wanted furs, especially Europeans wanted furs, especially beaver. See beaver hats pg. 60.beaver. See beaver hats pg. 60. These were considered symbols of These were considered symbols of

power in Europepower in Europe Indians wanted European trade goods Indians wanted European trade goods

such as woven fabrics, colorful glass such as woven fabrics, colorful glass beads, metal goods such as tools, and beads, metal goods such as tools, and guns.guns.

Early French Canadian Early French Canadian Fur TrapFur Trap

Going to the SourceGoing to the Source

Europeans found they could collect Europeans found they could collect more furs if they went to the Indians more furs if they went to the Indians instead of the Indians having to instead of the Indians having to come to them. come to them.

In the process, Europeans learned In the process, Europeans learned the ways of the Indians. See page the ways of the Indians. See page 60.60.

Cultural diffusion?Cultural diffusion?

Going to the SourceGoing to the Source

The Europeans who traveled to the The Europeans who traveled to the lands of the Ojibwe and the Dakota lands of the Ojibwe and the Dakota were of three social classes.were of three social classes. TraderTrader ClerkClerk VoyageurVoyageur

See page 60See page 60

By the end of the 1700s a few big By the end of the 1700s a few big companies controlled most of the fur companies controlled most of the fur trade. trade.

In Minnesota, the biggest company In Minnesota, the biggest company was the Northwest Company.was the Northwest Company.

It’s main competitors were the It’s main competitors were the Hudson Bay Company and the XY Hudson Bay Company and the XY Company.Company.

North West Company post North West Company post in Pine City, Minnesotain Pine City, Minnesota

Living TogetherLiving Together

Late each summer, crews of men set Late each summer, crews of men set out from the central fur post at out from the central fur post at Grand Portage for wintering posts Grand Portage for wintering posts throughout the areas that now make throughout the areas that now make up northern Minnesota and up northern Minnesota and Wisconsin, including a destination Wisconsin, including a destination near the St. Croix River, which was a near the St. Croix River, which was a post run by the North West post run by the North West Company. Company.

Living Together Living Together continued…continued…

In the autumn of 1803, the Ojibwe in In the autumn of 1803, the Ojibwe in the area had someone new to trade the area had someone new to trade with – the XY Company. For a period with – the XY Company. For a period of the next 7 months the Northwest of the next 7 months the Northwest Company and the XY Company Company and the XY Company competed over Ojibwe furs. competed over Ojibwe furs.

See pages 62-65 for info on this and See pages 62-65 for info on this and the seasonal activities of the traders.the seasonal activities of the traders.

Living Together Living Together continued…..continued…..

By 1804, the fur trade was entering its final By 1804, the fur trade was entering its final decades and in a few years, the newly decades and in a few years, the newly formed American Fur Company would take formed American Fur Company would take control of the fur trade in the region.control of the fur trade in the region.

Traders would have to become U.S. citizens Traders would have to become U.S. citizens to participate after the War of 1812.to participate after the War of 1812.

This was one of the first signs that the new This was one of the first signs that the new nation, formed in lands to the east, was nation, formed in lands to the east, was now looking west to a place that would now looking west to a place that would later be called Minnesota.later be called Minnesota.

Gull Lake’s Role in the Fur Gull Lake’s Role in the Fur Trade (LUND)Trade (LUND)

Radisson and Groseillers, French organizers fo the Radisson and Groseillers, French organizers fo the England based Hudson Bay Company, entered what is England based Hudson Bay Company, entered what is now MN and WI to find new sources for furs. Found now MN and WI to find new sources for furs. Found them but also found Indians willing to travel as far as them but also found Indians willing to travel as far as Hudson Bay to trade them. Hudson Bay to trade them.

In late 1700s, mostly French independent traders In late 1700s, mostly French independent traders followed the St. Lawrence in the the MN/Ontario followed the St. Lawrence in the the MN/Ontario boundary waters and established many small posts. boundary waters and established many small posts. Eventually these traders organized themselves into the Eventually these traders organized themselves into the Northwest Company. No longer would the Indians have Northwest Company. No longer would the Indians have to travel to Hudson Bay.to travel to Hudson Bay.

Competition between the two companies was intense, Competition between the two companies was intense, sometimes to bloodshed. Finally a merger was sometimes to bloodshed. Finally a merger was negotiated in 1821 under the name of Hudson Bay negotiated in 1821 under the name of Hudson Bay Company.Company.

Gull Lake continued….Gull Lake continued….

Used mostly French Canadian voyageurs Used mostly French Canadian voyageurs and their birch bark canoes to carry trade and their birch bark canoes to carry trade goods out of Montreal each spring to posts goods out of Montreal each spring to posts in the west. Would return in the fall with in the west. Would return in the fall with furs.furs.

Some would winter with Indians in the far Some would winter with Indians in the far west and rendevous with the voyageurs at west and rendevous with the voyageurs at Grand Portage in July to exchange furs for Grand Portage in July to exchange furs for goods such as kettles, blankets, firearms, goods such as kettles, blankets, firearms, tobacco, knives, clothing, beads, combs, tobacco, knives, clothing, beads, combs, sewing tools, flour, salt, liquor, etc. sewing tools, flour, salt, liquor, etc.

Gull Lake cont…Gull Lake cont…

Through journals and oral histories, Through journals and oral histories, we know the general (not exact) we know the general (not exact) locations of a few posts:locations of a few posts: Between Gull and Round Lakes – Lynde Between Gull and Round Lakes – Lynde

or Round Lake trading postor Round Lake trading post At the confluence of the Crow Wing and At the confluence of the Crow Wing and

Mississippi Rivers – became Crow Wing Mississippi Rivers – became Crow Wing villagevillage

Pine RiverPine River Whitefish Lake (2 posts)Whitefish Lake (2 posts)

Gull Lake cont….Gull Lake cont…. The post at the mouth of the Crow Wing The post at the mouth of the Crow Wing

was one of the most important in MN – was one of the most important in MN – large and permanent, may have had a large and permanent, may have had a population as big as 600.population as big as 600.

Both Hole-In-The-Days resided there at Both Hole-In-The-Days resided there at times and the area Ojibwe were of the times and the area Ojibwe were of the Gull Lake Pillager tribe and were under Gull Lake Pillager tribe and were under their jurisdiction.their jurisdiction.

First road in MN was built from Fort First road in MN was built from Fort Snelling to Fort Ripley and then to Crow Snelling to Fort Ripley and then to Crow Wing village.Wing village.

Gull Lake Under Three Gull Lake Under Three FlagsFlags

Besides Native American ownership:Besides Native American ownership: France 1671-1762, 1800-1803France 1671-1762, 1800-1803 Spain 1763-1799Spain 1763-1799 U.S. as part of Louisiana Purchase in 1803.U.S. as part of Louisiana Purchase in 1803.

Before 1858, part of Louisiana, Missouri, Before 1858, part of Louisiana, Missouri, Unorganized, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, Unorganized, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, Unorganized, and MN territories (in Unorganized, and MN territories (in order.)order.)