"Long before Alexander McKenzie came west of the Rocky Mountains in search of a navigable route to the Pacific Ocean, the Nak'azdii had their home here. Part of the Dakelh or Carrier people, the Nak'azdii nation depended mainly on the salmon for sustenance over the long winters. It was their territory that Simon Fraser built the first trading post, Stuart Lake Outpost, in 1806. The post formed an important part of the North West Company's expansion west of the Rocky Mountains.
Stuart Lake Outpost was renamed Fort St. James in 1821 with the amalgamation of the North West Company and the Hudson's Bay Company. Today is what the was the fourth building phase in it's original location. As a place for trade, the post was alive and active until 1952."
Last time Gabrielle discovered GOLD! and now it's FUR! My but she has expensive tastes!
The fort has been restored to the 1896 era. Many of the buildings are original and the storeroom even has original floorboards.
Furs were the commodity that the HBC wanted and these were traded for all manner of supplies. One of the most desired and valuable even today were the HBC blankets. Note the black lines. Three and a half lines meant that it took one Beaver pelt for this blanket. One would think that an unfair trade but if you know what an HBC blanket costs today perhaps it would be cheaper to trap a Beaver to trade for one!
Winter furs were considered the most valuable. Here is a Coyote and a Wolverine.
When we went there, many of the buildings were falling down or in horrible disrepair. Most we couldn't enter rather we could just look in. They also needed more signage. They did mention that they were going to be working on the buildings as money became available. I guess I have been spoilt by Heritage Park in Calgary, though...
ReplyDeleteI'm glad G is with you and having fun!