The fur trade was based on the barter system and in the late 1700s a blanket was worth seven prime beaver pelts, a gun cost 14 pelts. (As portrayed in Canada: A People's History) (Underwool is ...

(Courtesy of the National Archives of Canada) At first, fur traders came to the Northwest Territory bringing guns, blankets and cooking utensils to trade for buffalo robes. Soon whiskey became the ...