Fur brigade

Encyclopedia : F : FU : FUR : Fur brigade

The Fur Brigade were convoys of Canadian Indians fur trappers who travelled between their home trading posts, usually by canoe or, in certain prairie situations, by horse, to a larger post. For example, they might travel to Hudson Bay or James Bay from their inland home territories. This pattern was most prevalent during the early 19th century.

By canoes, which comprised the most common fur brigades, the trip from the home fort headed downstream in groups of four to six large thirty foot freighters with twenty-four to thirty-six voyageurs. These loads were relatively light, comprised mainly of furs. By contrast, the return voyage was upstream and involved much heavier bulkier loads, being the ammunition, traps and various other supplies needed for the next winters trapping season.

These brigades were an annual event, involving the most able and skilled men of the tribe. Depending upon distances travelled, a brigade could occupy much of July, all August and a successful return to the home fort in early September.

Sources

From Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Original article here. Support Wikipedia by contributing or donating.
All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License See Wikipedia Copyrights for details.