Maritime Fur TradeLeadership: First Nations and European Relationships

Take aways….Compare and contrast the maritime and land fur trade.Uncover our original impressions of first nations peoples in the fur trades.Investigate the role of first nations people in the fur trade and compare how this differs from our original impressions.Consider a personal connection to the maintaining of culture and identity.

How we’ll get there….BrainstormingSmall lectureReading (small group)Discussion questions (small group)Reconsider brainstorming (medium group)Final reflection (individual, small group, large group)

Brainstorming…Question: What are your impressions of the role first nations peoples played in the fur trades (maritime and land)?

1) Discuss in your small group and record on the sheet.

2) Send a group member to record on the large paper.

Lecture…

Lecture…

Lecture…

Lecture…

Lecture…

Lecture…

Lecture…

Lecture…

“Large scale economic issues played a role in the decline of the maritime fur trade and the China trade in general. Before the 19th century, there was little Chinese demand for Western raw materials or manufactured goods, but bullion (also known as specie) was accepted, resulting in a general drain of precious metals from the West to China. The situation reversed in the early 19th century for a variety of reasons. Western demand for Chinese goods declined relative to new options (for example, coffee from the West Indies began to replace tea in the United States), while Chinese demand for Western items increased, such as for English manufactures, American cotton goods, and opium which was outlawed but smuggled into China on a large and increasing scale. Before long, China was being drained of specie and saturated with Western goods. At the same time, there was intense speculation in the China trade by American and British merchant companies. By the 1820s, too many firms were competing for an overstocked market, resulting in bankruptcies and consolidation.

The inevitable commercial crisis struck in 1826–27, after the Panic of 1825. Tea prices plummeted and the China trade's volume collapsed by about a third. By this time, the old maritime fur trade on the Northwest Coast and the Old China Trade itself were dying. The final blow came with the depression of 1841–43, following the Panic of 1837.[56]”

Lecture…

Lecture…Question:How is the maritime fur trade on the West Coast

historically significant?

Significant change occurs

after.Reveals

patterns or trends.

Historical narrative.

Readings…1. Each person has a copy

of the summary of Robin Fisher “Indian Control of the Maritime Fur Trade and the Northwest Coast”.

2. Decide how you will read the article: selected readers, individual reading, etc.

3. Read. (Go!).

Small Group Discussions…

1. What did early historians say about European-First Nations relations in the maritime fur trade? What were they omitting?

2. Were the accounts early historians gave accurate or truthful?

3. How would you describe the actions of First Nations traders in their business relationships with European traders?

4. How does the traditional impressions of First Nations-European relations have an impact on the early development of Canada?

5. Does the traditional impression of historical First-Nations and European relations exist today? How is this seen/not seen?

Back to the Brainstorm…

Look at your original impressions brainstorm.1. What strikes you now as out of

date or inaccurate? Put a strike through it OR add to it to make it accurate.

2. What is missing that should be added? Add it and put a * beside it.

Reflecting…

Agency Vs.

Autonomy

Reflecting…Think of a person who took action to maintain his/her community’s identity or culture….• Who was it? • What did they do?• What was the threat?• How did their actions

preserve the culture/identity?

What is an ongoing event or traditional practice that you would take action to preserve?• What is the event?• Why is important to you?• What was the threat?• How would your actions

preserve the culture/identity of your community?

OR

What have you taken away?

Compare and contrast the maritime and land fur trade.Uncover our original impressions of first nations peoples in the fur trades.Investigate the role of first nations people in the fur trade and compare how this differs from our original impressions.Consider a personal connection to the maintaining of culture and identity.