Much of Western Canada was called Rupert's Land, then later, the Northwest Territories.
Only the fur traders were interested in the west at first. After all, travel was hard–there were no roads, no trains, and certainly no airplanes.
To get from Montreal to the prairies you had to cross the Great Lakes by boat, then paddle by canoe, upstream.
You brought your food with you, or hunted along the way. And you slept in a tent or under your canoe.
What drove men–and it really was only men–to leave the comforts of civilized life and head off
into the wilds? Fashion! |
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Trade goods moved west and north, bales of fur moved south and east. |
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