Indians taught Europeans how to make:
1) snowshoes
2) birchbark canoes
3) Toboggans
Europeans introduced Indians to Christianity. Missionaries were the group of people to do this.
Explorers came to MN for two reasons:
1) fame
2) adventure
Indians wanted the following items to make life easier:
1) Metal Tools - ax, knives, traps
2) Glass beads
3) Cloth
4) Kettles
5) Guns
Europeans wanted the fur for Felt Hats. These were a sign of Wealth, High Social Status, and Power. They were warm and waterproof.
People of the Fur Trade:
Trader -
1) in charge of one or more trading posts
2) traded goods for furs to earn money
3) wealthy
4) high social status
5) could read and write
Clerk -
1) managed day to day work of trading post
2) sometimes he ran the post
3) often young -- could read and write
Voyageurs -
1) Many could not swim
2) did physical work
3) carried the canoes loaded with fur to trade center
4) paddled canoe
5) few could read or write
Indian Men -
1) hunted and trapped furs to trade
2) help guide the voyageurs
3) did the trading of furs for goods at the posts
Indian Women -
1) translator
2) collected sugar to trade
3) prepared the hides for trade
4) repaired the canoes
5) married into the trade
The fur trade was not always peaceful because of the following reasons:
1) Food became scarce during the winter
2) Competition between the trading posts
3) Competition between the Indian tribes
4) At times the traders would cheat the Indians with poor quality goods
The animal skin from start to finish...
1) Trapped by Indian men
2) Pelt prepared by Indian women
3) Trade with the trader the pelt for goods - clerk keeps record
4) Voyageurs carry the pelts to Grand Portage and then to Montreal
5) Pelts are shipped to Europe to be made into hats
Activities of fur trade during each season:
Fall -
1) Traders traveled to wintering posts
2) Indians traveled to hunting grounds
Winter -
1) Indians collected and prepared furs
2) Indians and traders exchanged goods and furs
Spring -
1) Indians collected last furs
2) Traders prepared to leave
3) Indian women repaired the canoes
Summer -
1) Traders returned to Grand Portage for rendezvous
2) Indians returned to summer camps