Trapping

The exploration of North America would not have happened as quickly as it did, if it weren't for trapping. Much of Canada and the northern United States' history can be traced back to the fur trade. Cities like Green Bay, Chicago, Duluth, Winnipeg, and Thunder Bay might not be in existence if it weren't for trapping. Festivals, like the one in The Pas, celebrate trapper history, while trying to preserve the culture and share the skills with the younger generation.

During the height of the fur trade, most of the trapping was carried out by the Native Americans, like the Ojibwe and Cree. Although the hivernants, or wintering voyageurs, would often set trap lines of their own as a way of fighting off winter boredom. Beavers were the animals most sought after, because everyone in the 17th and 18th Centuries had to have a beaver-felted hat. You just weren't very cool without one. However, all types of animals were trapped. Bear, lynx, wolves, otter, muskrat, fisher, and other small mammals were trapped and skinned. The pelts were then traded with the voyageurs and employees of the North West Company and Hudson's Bay Company.

During the later part of the fur trade, beginning in the early 1800s, the coures du bois, or independent fur trader, emerged. These men would often run trap their own trap lines and live in very remote areas of the wilderness. That's not to say that independent fur trapping didn't happen before 1800, it's just that the number of people trapping for themselves grew significantly during that time.

Many times we've read accounts of very inhumane trapping practices that were carried out. Often times, animals were trapped without thinking of how it would effect the overall environment, food chain, and ecosystem of the Boreal Forest . Over time, these practices of taking as many animals as possible drastically reduced the number of animals in the forest, threatening some species with extinction. From 1750-1800, over 2 million beaver were trapped throughout Canada!

Trapping today is different. At first glance, trapping could be considered a very harmful and non-animal friendly practice. Yet, over the years, trappers have become conscious of where they trap, what animals they trap, and how they trap. Traps today ensure that the animal does not suffer. Trappers are heavily regulated on the area that they can run a trap line, and do not take any more animals than necessary.

Since the beginning of the Bimaadagaako Adventure, we've met many modern-day trappers. It's been interesting to talk with them about their profession, which today, is losing popularity. Many people, rightly or not, feel that trapping animals is inhumane and should be stopped. How do you feel about trapping animals for their fur?