My story of Canada
Brady Kroeker
Fur Trade
The fur trade consisted of two companies fighting for land to hunt and sell the furs that they gained. The Hudson's Bay Company was founded in 1670. With the support of Charles II of England, Pierre-Esprit Radisson and Medart Des Groseillers founded the Hudson's bay Company and purchased land known as Rupert's Land. Managed from London, London directors could share in company profits. The Northwest Company was just a bunch of trading posts in the Northwest. By 1783, several merchants formed the Northwest Company. Managed from Montreal, partners who worked in the Northwest year-round could share in company profits. They set up many forts along major rivers.
Northwest from 1800 to 1860
The Northwest was filled with rivers and lakes that weren't always connected or travelled in the direction that you wanted. This forced voyageurs to portage both boat and cargo on land to the next river or same river where it is calmer. The NWC used canoes, or canot du nord, to travel the smaller rivers and used the large canot du maitre to travel from Fort William to Montreal. The HBC used York boats which were based on small fishing boats from Scotland. They came in two sizes, and the larger size was used on the main trading routes. York boats were more studier than canoes so that meant that they could withstand more hits from the rocks. They also could be used later in the year because they were ice-worthy. The sails also helped with increased speed and helped save the energy of the crew. York Boats could also withstand sudden lake storms, which could possibly swamp canoes.
Selkirk Settlement
The Selkirk Settlement was a colonization project set up by Thomas Douglas in 1811, on 300,000 square kilometres of land. The Hudson's Bay Company gave him this land and it is referred to as the Selkirk Concession. The Selkirk Settlement stretches from southern Manitoba, northern Minnesota, eastern North Dakota, and small parts of eastern Saskatchewan. Many settlers came from the Scottish Highlands who were forced out by their landlords and wanted to rebuild their lives in the new world.