The origin of the Metis Nation is rooted in the historical fabric of Canada. It was in the Canadian Northwest that they evolved into a new and distinct Aboriginal Nation.

The mixed-blood offspring of French fur traders from the North West Company or Scottish and English fur traders from the Hudson's Bay Company and Cree, Ojibway or Saulteaux women formed an ever-increasing proportion of the fur trade population. This cultural evolution commenced in the mid 1600's and reached its height in the late 1800's.

With their mixed traditions and command of both European and Indian languages, the Metis were logical intermediaries in the commercial relationship between two civilizations. They adapted European technology to the wilderness, through innovations such as the Red River Cart and York Boat, making it possible to transport large volumes of goods and supplies to and from the far flung outposts of the fur trade. As people of mixed ancestry increased in number and married amongst themselves, they developed a new culture, neither European nor Indian, but a fusion of the two and a new identity as Metis.

By the mid 19th century, Metis villages had appeared in and around fur

Though the term Overplus implies excess profits, it must be recalled that the Hudson's Bay Company wanted some price flexibility to compensate for changing conditions in the European markets and for the gifts given during trade. The exchange of gifts before trade began was an important tradition to the natives. In the preliminary ceremonies, the natives presented furs or country produce to the Factor as an affirmation of friendship, and the Factor reciprocated with gifts of goods. Usually the MB value of the Company's gifts exceeded those of the natives. Therefore, when settling its accounts in London, gift-giving expenses were charged against the Overplus.

Though the official standards of trade varied little over time, the actual rates of exchange did vary considerably. As noted above, Company traders attempted to exceed the official standards. This was done in two ways. According to Andrew Graham, a Company trader, the Factors attempted to give short measures on goods that were measured at the time of trade. For example, a pound of powder might be weighed with the Factor's thumb pressing down on the scale and brandy might be diluted with water by as much as one-third. With items such as guns or kettles, the Factors simply demanded more than the Company standard specified. In short, at each post there was an unofficial rate of exchange known as the Double or Factor's Standard. The gains that were made by the application of the Factor's Standard were recorded as the Overplus.

The fur trade was fueled by a European clothing fashion for beaver-felt hats and exotic furs and by men looking for fame through exploration and fortune from the sale of beaver skins. The North American fur trade was started by men from fishing ships stopping to trade with the natives. The supply of beaver had been exhausted in Europe. North America was seen as a new source of wealth because of the quality and quantity of beaver and other furs. In the beginning all the harvesting of fur was done by the natives. After the French and English traders had been in the interior for some time, free men (voyageurs who had quit the fur trade but stayed and lived with their native families), began to harvest fur. After 1800 which was the beginning of the Rocky Mountain fur trade, companies started hiring men for the purpose of trapping beaver. After about 1840, the fur trade came almost to an end because the fashionable thing in Europe was to have a hat made from silk.

Several factors were responsible for the relatively fixed nature of these two company standards. The natives had no concept that a supply and demand mechanism operated to control the values of goods and furs in distant European markets. Therefore, once a standard was set, the natives resisted attempts to change in response to varying economic conditions in Europe. These standards quickly became a language of trade; the company traders and natives bargained in terms of these standards, and these standards only. Natives asked for full measure or more, while traders attempted to give short measures whenever possible. By using official company standards as their base of reference, the traders and natives could come to terms quickly. If the official standards had fluctuated every year, it would have taken the two parties longer to conduct their trade since they would have had to establish a basis of communication each year before bartering could begin.

Mahican concentration on trapping for the fur trade instead of hunting animals for their own use was detrimental to their health and their existence. While the men were busy hunting and trapping, it kept them from perfor

Some common words found in the essay are:
Bay Company, Hudson Valley, Amateur Dutch, Mahican Delaware, Valley Dutch, Graham Company, Company Metis, York Boat, Hudson River, Mahican Wappinger, fur trade, bay company, hudson's bay, hudson's bay company, hudson valley, red river, west company, north west company, hudson river, north west, indians hudson valley, company standard, standard trade, red river settlement, fur trade dutch,
Approximate Word count = 2446
Approximate Pages = 10 (250 words per page double spaced)