The Fur Trade

Both of the King Islanders in this photograph are wearing parkas

As the landscape of the Alaska fur trade began taking shape, it became more clear that fur trading companies such as the Hudson Bay Company would take any measure to grow their business.

According to Father Bellarmine LaFortune, these companies would hire anyone and do anything in the pursuit of furs, without regard for the future.  This mindset allowed for a total control of the land, including the story and perception of it.  Fur trading companies would advertise the land in a poor, unfair way in order to discourage any prospecting parties for advancing on their profits.  In particular, LaFortune notes that "In short every possible thing is done to make the country appear unfit for human habitation."  Another quote describes large fur traders as people "who would much like to keep Alaska, for an immense fox-farm."  Moving along with an any means necessary perspective, fur traders began in some degree to marry into native families.  The impact of the fur trade on mixed families is described on the following page.