History

History of Trade

The richness and diversity of the natural resources on northwest coast varied among tribal territories, and local groups had access to an overabundance of food and materials.  Excess goods were traded with neighboring villages through the extensive intertribal trade network.  Maritime trade routes were well established even before contact, and the Natives were very proficient at bartering. Their large and sea worthy cedar canoes were useful for carrying the goods great distances. 

European contact and the introduction of a cash economy, firearms, and agriculture to the northwest coast Natives caused a significant alteration of their culture and society (Cole and Darling, 1990:128).  The changes for the most part were unintentional, and they resulted in an acceleration and intensification of pre-existing trends (Fisher, 1977; Codere, 1956).  One unfortunate change that was introduced to the westcoast was the exploitation of certain natural resources with ruinous consequences for the environment.

The Maritime Fur Trade.
Natives along the Pacific Northwest started to encounter European and Russian explorers late in the eighteenth century.  In 1778, Captain James Cook anchored in Nootka Sound to repair his ships and take on fresh provisions (Arima and Dewhirst, 1990:407).  The people of Yuquot traded sea otter pelts with Captain Cook and his crew for iron and other goods.  These pelts were eventually sold in China for great profits which led to the establishment of the maritime fur trade.

The early traders often noted in their journals that the Natives were accomplished traders, and that it was the Natives who exercised control over the maritime fur trade (De Laguna 1972 1:116).  The Natives were not dependent on the trader's goods, and could easily do with out trading their fur pelts.  The Europeans traveled great distances with their trade cargo, and were unable to depart without the furs.  This gave the Natives a recognized advantage, and trade was usually in terms less favorable to the Europeans (Cole and Darling,1990:120).

The role of the leaders in the southern regions, and the chiefs in the northern groups became more prominent, as the Europeans traded more efficiently with an authoritative figure.  This spokesman role and associated benefits for the leaders and chiefs led to the competition for European favor (Cole and Darling, 1990:128).  The obvious benefits for the Native leaders were the increased wealth and prestige.  Although trade increased the leader's role during the maritime fur trade, it is noted that the leaders from the contact period arose from the pre-contact leaders (Cole and Darling, 1990:129)

The trade vessels often anchored in the same easily accessible harbors; the mouth of the Columbia River, Nootka Sound, Kaigani, Kiusta, and Sitka (Cole and Darling, 1990:125).  This allowed the Native groups closest to these early trade sites to establish themselves as middlemen for the distant tribes.  The chiefs or leaders that controlled these trade harbors became wealthy intermediaries, and were willing to protect their position with force ( Wike, 1951:17-18; Fisher, 1977:11)).

Occasionally, the inter-group tension led to hostility, although this caused disruptions with the fur trade.  Conflicts were therefore discouraged by both the Natives and the Europeans.  Inter-tribal marriages helped to improve conditions and to cement the groups' economic and political alliances.  The Native potlatches also were effective to ease intertribal tensions, although these gatherings still involved some aggression and violence (Codere, 1966).  The increased wealth from the fur trade and the availability of blankets and other goods allowed for larger and more frequent potlatches (Cole and Darling,1990:132).

Trade Posts & Goods.
The Russians established permanent trade posts in the Tlingit territory in 1799, and the Americans, on the lower Columbia in 1811 (Cole and Darling, 1990:119).  With the land based trading posts, the fur trade continued much the same.  The Natives still did not depend on the trade goods, and the Europeans relied heavily on the Natives for the furs.

The Europeans traded guns and ammunition, of which the natives were usually eager to acquire more (Gunther, 1972:99).  Also popular were blankets and cloth, with blue being the choice color for the early trade period (Wike, 1951:45).  The blankets, beads and muskets became the most useful and common units of exchange for both inter-tribal bartering and fur trade, since they could be easily counted and compared (Caamano, 1938:219).  The Natives often used these trade goods extensively for their potlatch distributions (Wike, 1951:29).    

Native soften settled around the forts to protect their strategic location and position as middlemen.  They then prospered from the dealings with distant groups that did the hunting and trapping,  and were willing to use force to prevent distant tribes from trading directly with the Europeans (Cole andDarling,1990:125).

With the establishment of coastal forts came the dependence of the local Natives on certain food provisions, although food was an important trade item for both groups.  The Natives often supplied the forts with fish, game and potatoes, and the Europeans in turn supplied bread, molasses and rice (Coleand Darling,1990:122). 

With the depletion of the sea otter population, the Haida society shifted from that of a hunting society to an agricultural one. They were then able to keep their trade advantage with the new settlers (Cole and Darling, 1990:131).  By 1835, the Haida supplied many forts with potatoes and this lasted upto the early 1860's (J.R. Gibson, 1978:370, 381).

Northwest Coast Art.
Early in the fur trade, European metal and iron tools tended to be valuable items.  The metal tools allowed the Native artists to create large and detailed sculptures more easily.  At the time of contact there were only a few large and free standing totem poles noted, such as the ones at Dadans (Haida Guaii) and Lituya Bay.  With time, more poles and monumental sculptures were created along the coast because of the intertribal cultural exchange developed by the fur trade, and the availability of metal carving tools (Cole and Darling, 1990:132).

The fur trade furnished goods such as sheet copper, bells, beads and colorful paint for the artists.  This new wealth of materials and metal tools were combined with the traditional art form of the Northwest coast to produce what is known as "The Golden Age" for Native art (Wyatt, 1984). This was a period where inter-group mingling and potlatch gatherings lead to an increase in the production and diversification of Native artwork.  It is interesting to note that during this era, while the artwork developed to great elaboration and distinction, the Native population steadily declined.  The introduction of exogenous diseases by the non-Natives caused many problems for the non-immune populations.

The Golden Era.
Contact with the Europeans not only affected the Native lifestyle and economy, but it also allowed for an increase in the production of Native artwork here on the coast.  The otter pelts and other furs, once valued for domestic use, became valuable commodities that were used to obtain new materials and technologies.  An unfortunate effect of the fur trade was the introduction of natural resource exploitation and greed.  Certain groups were able to gain considerable amounts of wealth and prestige in proportions unknown during pre-contact times.  This new wealth, combined with the intensified inter-group contact allowed for the development of  potlatch gatherings and the "Golden Age" of Northwest coast Native art.  From this golden era we find many of the great works that are now displayed in museum collections around the world.