Fur trade

Isabel (Isobel, Isabella) Gunn, 1 of 6 siblings, was born on the Orkney Islands off the north coast of Scotland in 1780 or 1781. She was the daughter of John Gunn and Isobel Leaske. Life in Orkney,…

As Canadians celebrate the 150th anniversary of Confederation, this is a fine time to recall the unique role played by this country’s fur trade history.

The fur trade in the New World it is said started back in the 16th century. If you arrived in the New World without a trade, short of labouring, getting into the fur trade may have been you're easiest option. If you could convince a trader to hire you and supply you with all you're needs, then you were off to a good start. Providing of course that you have had some prior experience with hunting and trapping, even if it was poaching back in the old country. If you had some equipment and a…

Many different species of furbearer are used in the fur trade, catering to different market segments. For the top... […]

BEAVER PELT STRETCHED FOR DRYING ON A WILLOW HOOP

If you enjoyed the movie The Revenant, and live in Colorado, much of the fur trade history took place very close to where we live.

Fur trading and frontier life in French Canada. As frontiers typically are, the story of the French Canadian wilderness has been a gendered one since its earliest iterations. If it ever existed in …

These legends were once real live men and women who endured some of the toughest trials and tribulations we can imagine—if the stories are true.

In this lesson, students will learn about life as a voyageur’s family during the Fur Trade and then will play the Fur Trade Game where they collect “furs” to trade for items from a “trading post”.

In this activity, students will explore key turning points in the fur trade and determine the impact of these events on different groups in Canada.