The Fur Trade, Missionaries and Allies to Assimilation

First Nations and The Fur Trade

- Economic basis for New France and exploration of the West. (Canada)

- Hudson Bay and the St. Lawrence were used to import and export.

- In the spring trappers would take the furs to the posts for exchange.

- Hardware, tobacco, guns, knives, cloth, liquor and blankets were traded for furs.

- Welcoming ceremonies happened before trading took place.

- The trading visit took only a few weeks- the rest of the year First Nations peoples followed their usual activities of fishing, hunting, socializing and following their religion.

-Some took on a role with the Europeans as "go-betweens"  (traders). Others were hunters, canoe paddlers, and snowshoe makers.

- Woman "dressed" leather, collected wood, erected tents, made clothes/ shoes, wove nets, brought water, cleaned and cooked food.

-  Women also married traders and acted as interpreters and diplomats. The mixed marriage "created" the Metis. (mixed European and First Nations)

- Men had to award a "bride price" to the woman's parents (trade goods, a horse, and parent's permission.)  This furthered a friendly alliance between the First nations and the Europeans.

- Negative consequences were that European diseases were introduced some traditional ways were abandoned, and a reliance on trade with the Europeans developed.

- Positive consequences included introduction of new ways of doing things, advanced hardware, and partnership in developing the fur trade and society.

Aboriginal Peoples and Missionaries

- Jesuits (Black Robes) were the first to come over.

- First Nations tolerated missionaries; fearing rejection would lead to stopping of trade.

- Missionaries also acted as schoolteachers, Doctors, priests and "police"

- Missionaries believed that their religion was "truth" and to convert First nations, they tried to move them into villages and a farming way of life.

- In the 19th century Residential Schools were created to take children away from their parents, while the aim was to abandon traditional Aboriginal ways.

- The schools were unhealthy, featuring illness, abuse, loss of culture and personal identity.

- Schools closed in the 1980s.

- Negative effects of Missionaries on First Nations were they tried to change their way of life, and produced significant negative consequences.

From Allies to Assimilation

- British created Department of _________ _______to deal with the First Nations people.

- At times First Nations people were denied the _____.

- Proclamation Act of 1763 - "All lands west of Quebec was to remain in _______hands, permission would be needed for _____________settlement."

- The British wanted to have a secure relationship so as to count on First Nations support in times of potential conflicts with _________.

- 1820 - changes: -logger and settlers encroached on Native lands, building ________ clearing _______and chasing away ___________ from traditional hunting grounds!

- The _____________ decided a new policy would be needed. Creating Reserves.  Civilizing the First Nations peoples by providing annual gifts of _________, tools, _________, equipment and ________, and education to move away from the traditional southern ____________ grounds.

- _____________- (the process of replacing or blending a less dominant culture, with a more dominant one) was now the objective of the British.

- In the West in the 1870's, First Nations peoples were forbidden to travel off _____________unless they had a "government" pass.

- Aboriginal Canadians recognized a change in lifestyle was going to happen, and signing, "_________" with  the government would be a good idea. However, the government failed to provide seed, equipment, etc as agreed upon, and the land given, was often __________, while good land was awarded to _____ ___________.

- In 1969 Prime Minister ________ ________ ________, tried to remove the "special status" for First Nations people, by dissolving the Indian Act.  He believed it hindered, their inclusion into "__________" society.  First Nations peoples objected stating that the removal of such recognition would result in the destruction of their ________ through "assimilation."

- Recently (since 1989, with Manitoba leading the way) the concept of "Self- Government" for First Nations peoples is being realized. This allows for decisions effecting ______ ________to be administered by First Nations peoples. (Own Justice system, control over environment …fisheries, game, and "things that happen on their lands.")

In the 21st century, (2000 - current)  Self Government allowed reserves to to develop "_________" (South Beach casino,  Brokenhead reserve).  Secondly, a concept popular in Saskatchewan, where the same government provisions on a rural reserve, could be accessed in the city and is /was called an "_____ ________" ( a concept of a city block designed for use by First Nations peoples, providing employment, education, health service and housing in an urban area) Finally, awarding re-settled people in Northern lands along Power Dam construction sites in the North, could provide ______as a simple and practical way to promote prosperity among First Nations people.