Canada to England to Korea: Fort Carlton

Fort Carlton rests about an hour and a half from Saskatoon to the northwest. This fort was originally set up during the fur trade (the actual original reason why Canada as we know it even exists today). This fort is at a point in the prairies where the river is the major route to eastern Canada and also to Hudson Bay (where the Hudson's Bay Company had their larger trade stores and where they brought in supplies from). This fort is a major site in western Canadian history.

Aboriginal people from the surrounding areas (in this case it was predominately Cree) would be hired by the fort to hunt for them. During the winter (especially towards the later 17th century) Aboriginal people would camp outside the fort in Teepees like the one Steve is standing in. This is about the size of a common Teepee for one family.

As you can see they had two extra poles on the outsides of the Teepees so they could move the smoke flaps to let more or less air into their homes.

This is the building where traders would bring their furs to be graded. One made beaver is the top grade a fur could receive. The reason why this was is because back in Europe beaver felt hats were very popular for men, so beaver pelts where what they wanted the most. Every other fur that was brought in would be given a grade based on one made beaver, a wolf fur would usually bring in about 3/4 made beaver. Everything was written down and they would give you credit at the trading store based on what you brought in.

There are many different types of animals that the trappers would try and catch. The top ones were beaver, wolf, deer and muskrat. All other pelts were worth less, but they were also taken. Trappers would only trap in winter because the animals would have a thicker coat.

After you traded in your furs they would be packaged up in burlap and tied (like the packages behind me) to be shipped back to Europe.

They would also be pressed so that the furs were compact before shipping.

We are now in the trade store. You could use your credit that you received from trading your furs at this store. Almost all the trappers were in debt every year no matter how much they trapped during the previous winter. In the store you could get cloth, gun powder, guns, cooking wear, flint, traps, alcohol, beads and much more. At the beginning of the trading the HBC tried to trade inferior goods to the Aboriginal peoples thinking that they were to stupid to know the difference. That soon stopped when it became apparent that they knew what would work and what wouldn't.

Steve is holding a small animal trap.

This is one of the residences that the soldiers and HBC employees would live in year round. When you got a job with the HBC it was considered for life. Men would stay out in the Canadian wilderness for 20 or more years before they would try and retire back in the UK (most people think England, but there were many Scottish and Irish men that also came over).

The living quarters were quite sparse and many men would be sleeping in the main open area of the building.

For those of you not accustom to this sight!!! These....are shoes. Snow shoes to be technical. The way they are formed it allows anyone to walk on snow without sinking to far into it.