Description

The Fur Trade in the West makes Western Canada’s rich and fascinating history come alive. It is the most comprehensive book available on Canada’s fur trade, designed to help students celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday in 2017 by learning what was happening in the West in the years leading up to 1867. Young readers will learn about our country’s first national industry, the fur trade, and how the beaver hat became a fashion trend in Europe resulting in the exploration and mapping of Canada.

The Fur Trade in the West is a visual feast for young readers with a 60 percent visual to text ratio. Written in an informative, accessible style, it uses the visuals to supplement the text. Rich historical paintings and photographs accompany the 24 custom maps, 27 illustrations, and 7 informative charts and diagrams. Eight factual narratives and a photo essay on Fort Edmonton add interest and personalize the time period of the fur trade. The book includes a glossary and art index, plus a chart comparing historical names of First Nation people with the name used today.

This highly visual book focuses on how the explorers and fur traders, in partnership with the Indigenous peoples, plied their trade along the rivers and watersheds of our country. Of great importance are the contributions of the Nehiyawak, Nakota, and Métis people as they worked in partnership with the Hudson’s Bay Company and the North West Company. They are all here: Radisson and Des Groseilliers, Kelsey, the Vérendryes, Henday, Pond, Hearne, Mackenzie, Fraser, Thompson, Small, Rowand, Simpson, and Sir John A. Macdonald.