Les Premières Nations et Champlain

Les Premières Nations et les Français

• Five Indigenous nations, including the Iroquois, Algonquins, and Hurons, had complex relationships with the French
• Alliances were both commercial and military in nature
• The Iroquois controlled territory near the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes
• The French traded with the Iroquois, exchanging European goods for furs
• Indigenous peoples provided furs, and the French provided European goods
• Dutch traders also interacted with the Indigenous peoples

La Vision de Champlain

• Champlain believed New France would be profitable for France
• In 1618, he presented a plan to the King (Louis XIII)
• Champlain proposed settling New France with French people, developing the area's resources (fisheries, agriculture, forests, and potentially minerals), and bringing Catholicism
• He envisioned a well-populated colony, with 300 families and 300 soldiers, and Catholic missionaries
• Champlain's proposal was influential in the creation of the Company of New France (Compagnie de Canada)

Commerce des Fourrures

• The fur trade was a significant aspect of the early French colonization
• Indigenous allies were crucial to the fur trade, hunting animals and preparing furs for the French traders.
• Indigenous peoples used trading networks of existing relationships with each other.
• The trading posts (e.g., Tadoussac and Quebec) were responsible for receiving furs from Indigenous peoples.
• French traders stored the furs and shipped them to France.

Compagnies de Marchands

• Several trading companies operated in New France between 1608 and 1663

• The initial companies struggled to attract settlers

• A common goal was fur trade, however, there were other goals such as colonization, and establishing Québec as a central hub (center)

• Notable companies included the Company of Canada, the Company of Caen, and the Company of One Hundred Associates (Compagnie des Cent-Associés)

• The Company of One Hundred Associates was established under Cardinal Richelieu in 1627