What are some fun facts about the fur trade?
Canada’s fur trade contributes nearly $1 billion to the Canadian economy annually1. “It is recognized that on the same area of land over a 100-year time period, the value of fur production is higher than forestry value.” Canadian trappers and fur farm owners earn more than $320 million2 annually in pelt sales.
Why was the fur trade so important in Canada?
The fur trade drove European exploration and colonization. It helped to build Canada and make it wealthy. Nations fought each other for this wealth. But in many instances, the fur trade helped foster relatively peaceful relations between Indigenous people and European colonists.
Who started the Canadian fur trade?
In 1608 Champlain gathered these companies under one organization, the Company of One Hundred Associates, which established a permanent trading post on the site of Quebec City. The early French fur traders explored and mapped the Great Lakes area and the Mississippi River system.
How did the fur trade affect Canada economy?
The fur trade fell throughout the 19th century. With that came an economic decline for an Indigenous population that had lost much of its traditional economy. This pressed communities into signing many treaties that, in the end, assured the expansion of the new nation westward across the Prairies.
How many animals were killed during the fur trade?
This gives a dreadful total of 80 million animals killed for no other reason than the fur off their backs. This headline figure maks the individual suffering of the animals and the sheer callousness of this barbaric industry.
How many animals are killed for fur trade?
Every year, around 100 million animals are raised and killed for their fur. Over 95% of fur sold globally, comes from farmed animals, such as mink, foxes, raccoon dogs, rabbits and chinchillas.
Does the fur trade still exist today?
Today the importance of the fur trade has diminished; it is based on pelts produced at fur farms and regulated fur-bearer trapping, but has become controversial. Animal rights organizations oppose the fur trade, citing that animals are brutally killed and sometimes skinned alive.
How did the fur trade end?
In 1701, the French and their allies reached a truce with the Haudenosaunee, known as the Great Peace of Montreal. This effectively ended the Beaver Wars over the fur trade.
Are fur coats illegal in Canada?
Canadians who wear fur – or fur-trimmed mittens or hoods – may be surprised to learn that cat and dog fur is perfectly legal; many are wearing dog or cat without even knowing it. There’s no requirement that fur products be labelled, and consumers often have no idea which species they’re wearing.