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Handout
Ohio History Central

Ohio History Central: Beaver Wars

For Students 6th - 8th
A brief description of the Iroquois tribe making war on other tribes in order to advance their trade in furs with the Europeans. These events are known as the Beaver Wars.
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Unit Plan
Wisconsin Historical Society

Wisconsin Historical Society: Pierre Esprit Radisson, 1640? 1710

For Students 9th - 10th
Pierre-Esprit Radisson arrived in Wisconsin in the mid-1600s as one of the first French fur traders to reach there. Radisson led a colorful life and traveled widely across the continent, although he is reputed to have exaggerated some of...
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Website
Hudson's Bay Company

Hudson's Bay Company: Radisson and Des Groseilliers

For Students 9th - 10th
French adventurers Pierre-Esprit Radisson and Medard Chouart, Sieur des Groseilliers were the first Europeans to explore the forests of the north, negotiate treaties with the Cree, explore the Mississippi and Missouri and establish...
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Handout
University of Minnesota

University of Minnesota: Sea Otter

For Students 9th - 10th
Analysis of the history of the sea otter in North America, focusing on its role in the European fur trade of the late 18th Century, this University of Minnesota web page is concise but thorough. The nations most involved in the...
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Article
Other

Maryland Colonial Essay Contest: Native Americans of Maryland

For Students 9th - 10th
This student essay discusses the Native Americans of Maryland that helped the colonists settle the land and survive, but were, in turn, run off of the land.
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Website
Other

Missouri State Archives: St. Louis Circuit Court Historical Records Project

For Students 9th - 10th
This site contains millions of records that document the judicial, social, cultural, and economic history of the city, county, state, and nation. Especially Freedom Suits by slaves, Lewis and Clark materials, and material pertaining to...
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Website
Other

The Fur Trade: Its Impact on Native America

For Students 9th - 10th
Information on the fur trade and its impact on Native Americans. The demands of the Europeans for fur increased competition among the Native American groups. It changed the character of warfare among Native American populations and...
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Handout
Alberta Online Encyclopedia

Alberta Online Encyclopedia: Competitive Fur Trade (1850 1900)

For Students 9th - 10th
This encyclopedia article explains that competition in the fur trade did not end after the 1821 merger of the North West Company and Hudson's Bay Company. The Metis and other private traders were active with American trade companies....
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Handout
Alberta Online Encyclopedia

Alberta Online Encyclopedia: The Metis in Alberta: The Beginnings

For Students 9th - 10th
This is an informative encyclopedia entry detailing the Metis people in Alberta. To the right, there are links to further sub-entries on the Fur Trade Era, Origins and Identity, Metis of the Northwest, Political Life and Metis...
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Handout
Alberta Online Encyclopedia

Alberta Online Encyclopedia: Northwind Dreaming

For Students 9th - 10th
A website about the oldest community in Alberta, Fort Chipewyan, which currently is made up of people reflecting the original founder's ethnic background- Cree Indians, French and Scots Metis and non-Natives. This web page is based on an...
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Website
Ohio History Central

Ohio History Central: The Iroquois Indians

For Students 3rd - 8th
Information about the confederacy of Native Americans known as the Iroquois. Details how they lived and their allies and enemies, both foreign and from other Native American tribes.
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Handout
Alberta Online Encyclopedia

Alberta Online Encyclopedia: St. Vincent and St. Paul

For Students 9th - 10th
The history of Franco-Alberta is explored on this site through information about the fur trade, arrival of the missionaries, settlement, schooling, arts and culture and much more.
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Handout
Countries and Their Cultures

Countries and Their Cultures: Metis of Western Canada

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about the culture of the Metis communities of Western Canada. Explore topics such as their history, economy, past settlements, cultural values, religion, and sociopolitical organization.
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Handout
Wikimedia

Wikipedia: Company of One Hundred Associates

For Students 9th - 10th
Outlines what the Company of One Hundred was and what they aimed to accomplish in the New World with the fur trade and colonization.
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Graphic
US Army Center

U.s. Army Center of Military History: Lewis and Clark: Corps of Discovery: The Mandan Indian Nation

For Students 9th - 10th
Find a description of the Mandan culture, housing, and daily way of life. Included are photographs of Mandan villages and houses.
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Website
Other

The Beginning of the Fur Trade

For Students 9th - 10th
Provides information on the beginning of the fur trade and how this trade would shape the future of Canada.
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Lesson Plan
Other

Lesson Plans: New France

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Offers a lesson plan that helps students understand the lives and hardships of Coureurs de bois.
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Activity
Other

York Boats Colouring: Hbc Young Explorers

For Students Pre-K - 1st
For early elementary students and teachers wanting to get involved with a York Boat exercise, the Hudson's Bay Company has this website with colouring templates, including one for York Boats.
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Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: The French and Indian War

For Students 5th - 8th
A brief look at the French and Indian War, part of a world war France and England were fighting against each other. See why William Pitt's ideas about the value of the colonies helped turn the tide for the English troops.
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Activity
Other

Mountain Men, Trappers, and Fur Traders: John Jacob Astor

For Students 9th - 10th
This is a very brief site on the man who came to monopolize the fur trade, John Jacob Astor. Hyperlinks for additional information.
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Handout
The History Cat

The History Cat: The Beaver Wars

For Students 9th - 10th
Discusses the wars the Iroquois fought with other tribes and with the French in the last half of the 17th century, in their efforts to win control of the fur trade. A peace treaty was signed in 1701 to end the fighting.
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Website
Wisconsin Historical Society

Wisconsin Historical Society: Nicolas Perrot

For Students 9th - 10th
Nicolas Perrot arrived in Wisconsin in the 1600s as a fur trader and an explorer, claiming much of the land for France. He established trading posts along the Mississippi and strengthened the French position against the Iroquois. A link...
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Handout
Countries and Their Cultures

Countries and Their Cultures: Abenaki Economy

For Students 9th - 10th
This reference introduces the Abenaki tribe located in Northeast America. Read about their subsistence system, industrial arts, trade, division of labor, and land tenure.