Fur Trade
Name one item they traded.
Pots, beads, weapons, etc.
What is a voyageur?
Voyagers refers to travellers who worked for fur trading companies and travelled by canoe.
Who are the Métis?
Métis means a person who self identifies as Métis and is recognized by a Métis community. Métis are distinct from other Indigenous peoples, and have their own history, culture, language, flag, songs, dance and stories. The Métis are the people of Canada who have both First Nation and European ancestry.
What is Turtle Island?
Turtle Island is the name many First Nations use to refer to the continent of North America. In various Indigenous origin stories, the turtle is said to support the world, and is an icon of life itself.
What is a buffalo jump?
A buffalo jump, or sometimes bison jump, is a cliff formation which First Nations historically used to hunt and kill buffalo in mass quantities.
What did they use the beaver pelts for?
To make hats.
What was the main mode of transport for voyageurs?
Canoe (and walking).
What is the relationship between the fur trade and The Métis.
The history of the Métis people began with the arrival of the the fur trade in the West. French men, many of them fur traders, and First Nations women formed families. Their children, who were both French and First Nations, were called Métis. The word Métis is French for ‘mixed’.
What animal was able to dive down into the water to bring up some earth?
The muskrat.
What provincial park has ancient stories carved in rock?
Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park
What is a trading fort?
A fort is a building or set of buildings surrounded by a strong wall that was set up for trading.
Why did the Europeans come to Canada?
Beaver pelts
What was the role of the the Métis women?
First Nations and Métis women aided the survival of their fur trader husbands. They were able to translate the language, sew new clothing for their husbands, cook food and help resolve any cultural issues that arose.
First Nations and Métis women crafted snowshoes, moccasins, tents, mitts, and other goods the European traders needed to survive the harsh conditions of the west.
By forming relationships with the First Nations and Métis women, fur traders became closer to the First Nations communities and made trading easier.
What are oral traditions and stories
First Nations shared lessons, informations, and knowledge by talking and telling stories.
List one of the regions of Alberta?
Boreal Forest, Rocky Mountain, Foothill, Grassland, Canadian Shield, and Parkland.
What were the two big trading companies competing for furs?
By the time the fur trade reached Alberta, there were two big companies competing for furs. The first was the North West Company, based in the city of Montréal, Quebec where most Francophones lived. The second was the Hudson’s Bay Company, which was owned by the British. The companies competed to get as many furs as they could. Many of the fur traders were Francophones from eastern Canada or were English speaking people from England, Scotland or Ireland.
What does portage mean?
Portage refers to carrying a canoe and supplies over land. Comes from the French word for carry, “porter”.
What food did the Métis provid for the fur trade?
Métis provided food for the fur trade. Métis would hunt the buffalo and make pemmican. Pemmican is buffalo meat that has been dried, pounded and mixed with hot buffalo grease and dried berries. Pemmican never went bad and was very nutritious. Traders would trade goods with the Métis for pemmican.
What is a First Nation?
First Nations
A First Nation is a distinct nation or group of Indigenous people with their own languages, traditions, protocols, spiritual and cultural practices. Each group has their own traditional government with hereditary leaders or leaders chosen by the people of the group.
What are the two major cities in Alberta?
Edmonton and Calgary
Alberta’s Francophone and British roots began with what?
Alberta’s Francophone and British roots began with the fur trade.
Who were the voyageurs?
Mainly Francophones from Quebec and Firt Nations.
What did the Métis invent?
Métis also invented the Red River Cart that was made entirely of wood and pulled by a single horse or ox. Wooden pegs were used instead of bolts or nails. There was no grease for the wheels so the carts made a loud squeaking noise when the wheels turned.
What is the role of a First Nation Elder?
They share the stories that go far back in the past. These stories tell us about the people that were here, their relationship with the land and the animals, and teach life lessons.
What is the value in learning about our shared history?
Answers will vary.