This early 1900s painting by Archibald Bruce Stapleton is entitled Radisson & Grosseillers Established the Fur Trade in the Great North West, 1662. Radisson and Des Groseilliers are shown in the centre negotiating with First Nations people. Analyze: How do you think the goods being traded with Europeans changed life for First Nations peoples?

When Europeans arrived in North America, trade quickly developed with First Nations peoples. Examine the painting above. The painting shows explorers Pierre-Esprit Radisson and Médard Chouart Des Groseilliers trading with First Nations people.

Radisson and Des Groseilliers were the first Europeans to extensively explore the interior of Canada. They eventually set up a trading post on Lake Superior, negotiating with the Cree to trade furs. Europeans depended on trade with First Nations peoples to help them survive in North America.

In the early 1600s, France and England tried to make their claims on North America stronger. They did this by establishing permanent settlements. These settlements were built on land where First Nations peoples lived. Why did the French and English believe that they had the right to build on First Nations’ land?

The first English settlement was in Newfoundland. The English focused their settlements along the east coast of North America, south of the French, who lived mostly along the St. Lawrence River. As well, the English built three trading posts around James Bay. These trading posts put the English closer to some First Nations, making it easier to trade with them for furs.

The French relied on First Nations traders to bring them furs along the St. Lawrence River, which had the largest French settlements. First Nations came from the north to Montréal and other French trading posts to exchange furs for European goods. The river was the best way to move goods in New France.

In the early 1600s, France put in place the seigneurial system for its North American settlements. The seigneurial system was the way that land was divided among settlers in New France. A landlord, called a seigneur, rented out farmland to farmers for a small fee. Most of the farms in New France were located along the St. Lawrence River. The pictures below show the shape of the farms in New France in the 1600s and 1700s as weall as in the province of Québec today. What similarities do you see?

This photo shows farms today along the St. Lawrence River in the province of Québec. Analyze: Why would people design settlements this way?

• Why did Europeans want to own different parts of North America?

• How did Europeans try to claim ownership of the land?

• Would this method work today?

colony

• A settlement established in a new country by people from a different country.

convert

• To change religions. The clergy tried to get the First Nations people to change their religion and convert to Christianity.

habitant

• The poor farmers who rented the farm land from the seigneurs.

seigneur

• The owner of the land plots in New France, they were often wealthy men of nobility back in France.

missionary

• Someone who goes to another country to help people and share their religion.

pelt

• Fur and skin of an animal used to make household items and clothing.

coureurs des bois

• “Runner of the woods” were men who made their careers as fur traders in the forests of New France.

filles du roi

• “Daughters of the king” were single and/or orphaned women in France who were sent to New France to marry and start families to help populate the new colony.