Metis people and the fur trade in the north(Northern Canada)

Metis People and the hide Trade

European Fur Trade:

Three factors led to the development of large-scale fur trading within the Metis communities of the North. The head start was the large supply of furs in North America. The Canadian Shield and the Mackenzie Delta were the sterling(prenominal) fur areas in the world as its environment was an exemplification habitat for many fur-bearing animals. Cold winters meant t wear the animals had a thick exuberant coat through most of the year.

The second factor was the increment demand for furs in Europe. Initially, furs were wanted for the manufacture of garments, either as a basic material or as trim. The matt-up hat, however, eventually became the focus of the fur demand. For these hats, only the soft, downy under(a) hair or wool of the fur was used. This wool was first separated from the skin and the long; smooth guard hairs (Fur Trapping, Jaws on Paws. Coalition to abolish the fur batch.). It was then used as a raw material for making felt hats. Fur used in this way was called fix fur. Only accredited furs were suitable for use as staple fur: rabbit, muskrat, and in a higher place all beaver. On these animals, the wool fibers have microscopic barbs, which organise with one another when the wool is made into felt.



This results in a very strong, wear-resistant product. Because the beaver fur was generally used on the surface of the hat, the hats became known as beaver hats. The beaver hat industry was of central importance to the fur trade. By the 1700s, staple fur accounted for 60% of English fur import. The beaver became the emblem of the Hudsons Bay Company and its standard value for trade. Other furs and trade goods were evaluated in terms of the beaver (HBC Archives).

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