Midterm Flashcards
Active agents
A person or group who is part of a movement or contributes to a significant change or event in history, usually benefiting a certain group of people. This is significant because Indigenous peoples were active agents in the fur trade, they were the ones who frequently hunted buffalo, making there be an abundance of fur. Europeans lacked skills, knowledge, and fortitude to succeed without Indigenous peoples.
Astute consumers
Mentally sharp or clever, an ability to notice and understand things clearly within the fur trade as consumers. This is significant because the Indigenous were astute and demanding consumers. They knew how to respond to changing economic conditions to further their own best interests. Used competition to their advantage, were not easily fooled by Europeans, and could distinguish low and high quality merchandise.
Beaver felt hats
hats made of beaver felt. These were significant because the Indigenous perfected a way to make them which increased the need for furs. These hats were given to European merchants to get them to invest in the trade, they were a status symbol.
Engages
From the French for “hired” or “engaged” under contract, the term engagé described all contracted employees of the NWC who ranked below the level of clerk. Many hundreds of NWC engages were voyageurs who paddled canoes and carried cargo. Other engages of the company included tradesmen and farm workers.
Made beaver
The equivalent to the value of a prime beaver skin. The prices of all trade goods, other furs, and country produce were expressed in terms of MB. This was significant is that Indigenous made demands, had high standards, and forced traders to improve the quality of their trade goods. Due to the Europeans often being forced to bargain and make a standard that was used in the trade, Made beaver was created.
Voyageurs
A change in legislation in 1690 led to the gradual replacement of coureurs des bois with voyageurs. This practice was later embraced by the NWC when they contracted, or engaged, predominantly by canoe into the interior. Unlike the coureur des bois, these men were not independent traders working outside colonial law, but wage-earning canoe-men working for a legitimate fur trading company
Era of competition
A long and distinct period of history in which competition was prevalent. This is significant because Intense competition and competing posts lead to the 1821 merger of HBC and NWC. Competition gave indigenous traders the opportunity to choose the best prices and the best quality goods.
French traders
People of French descent involved in the fur trade. This is significant because they were part of the early fur trade in the late 17th century with the NWC and had inland posts. The French and English had rivalry.
“Full measure” “short measure”
Giving someone less than the correct amount of something; giving less goods or slipping a coin in to make the weight of goods heavier. Committee set the standard rate of trade and they had to up the over-head costs. In order to make up for the costs they’d provide short measures. Indigenous were aware of short measures and it was addressed in their trading speeches.
Gift-giving
Gift-giving is one way in which indigenous could ensure they’d get the full amount for traded goods. When they’d get good prices, they’d trade less items. The Europeans would give lavish gifts in return to give them their best furs. They would give the Europeans less, whereas the Europeans would give more. Gift-giving was important particularly during periods of intense competition.
HBC
One of the first Fur Trade companies in Canada. This company came from England. They set up posts along the Hudson Bay. It’s significant because it shows the relationship between the Indigenous and the new comers that played a huge role in Canadian history. Led to fur trade marriages and ultimately Metis people being born. Shows the colonization of British North America and the development of Canada.
HBC Charter
a written grant by a country’s legislative or sovereign power that was secured in 1670. The charter granted the company a monopoly over the region drained by all rivers and streams flowing into Hudson Bay in northern Canada.
London Committee
A group of people that worked with the London-based governor to set rules or policies in place. The London Committee was part of the HBC. HBC relied on the London committee to lay down the standard rules of conduct which governed their men’s behavior. Had more vertical social integration. Battle of Seven Oaks happened when Lord Selkirk and the London Committee of the HBC wanted to establish a settler colony in the heart of Rupert’s land
Middlemen
A person who buys goods from producers and sells them to retailers or consumers. They are significant because they are an example of the impact the early fur trade had on Indigenous peoples. The fur trade lead to them having specialized roles which included middlemen.
Monopoly
The exclusive possession or control of the supply or trade. The HBC had a monopoly that governed the fur trade. When establishing the HBC, the charter gave the monopoly trading rights and the rights to govern the HBC. HBC ruled the Selkirk colony under monopoly conditions. Metis smuggled furs across the border and effectively broke the monopoly in 1849. The Sayer Trial forced the HBC to back down on enforcing its monopoly.
Mutual dependence
A relationship of mutual benefit or dependence. There was a mutual dependence between the Indigenous and European traders. Marriages provided Indigenous women with economic security or advantages and access to technology they desired. HBC and NWC benefited most from these unions with bigger network of furs.
NWC
Fur Trade company that came to Canada in the late 17th century and set up posts inland. They were Montreal-based traders who reinvented themselves as the NWC. Significant because it shows how the early fur trade was and how their actions in the fur trade led to the merger.
Posts or factories
A station of a trader or trading company established in a sparsely settled region where trade in products of local origin is carried on. Significant because they marked a company’s or group’s territory. Placing posts in close proximity to other companies created intense competition—led to HBC and NWC merger.
Provisioners
Person or group of people who provided or supplied something. Metis hired to work in transport and provision carting pemmican overland to posts farther West. HBC wanted to establish the Red River colony to interfere with the NWC provisioning system. Indigenous were provisioners, bringing the Europeans pemmican to make it through the winter.
Socio-cultural complex
Combining social and cultural factors. The fur trade shifted in the 1970’s to a socio-cultural complex—Europeans had to learn to adapt to indigenous cultures. In the Marriage of Indigenous women and European traders, they would both have to adapt to each other’s culture.
‘women-in-between’
women who were married or had relations with Europeans. They had the culture of their Indigenous family on one side, but also learned to adapt to the ways of life of the Europeans. Usually had kids of mixed race. Significant because it was the first time in Canadian history that two races intermingled, see the reactions and effects it had on society.
